IT was, undoubtedly, a good Sentiment in the first Collector of this Learned Work, to introduce, as well as a Discourse of Knighthood in general, a Treatise of all the several Orders that have prevail'd in other Parts of the World; for these in their Rise and Institutions, having a relative Sense to the particular Subject he was to illustrate, seemed to afford him a very good Opportunity of doing it, by building on so convenient a Foundation.

I shall therefore, (tho' much more confin'd to bre­vity) follow the same Method, making it serve as a proper Introduction; there being many Things in the voluminous Original, which I conceive may with less Inconveniency be dispenc'd with.

IT was a constant Maxim in all well-regulated Go­vernments, to give a just Encouragement to Merit, and this by proportioning Rewards to the Service done; for Merit must be suppos'd to consist in the Performance [Page 2] of some Vertuous or Heroick Action, directed for the publick Good: And as Vertue is either Mili­tary or Civil, so the Distribution of Rewards is diffe­rent; either by bestowing Degrees and Titles of Ho­nour, or by Donations of Wealth; so that in either Construction, Vertue may have its proper and suitable Reward.

BUT the proper Reward of Military Vertue, is Ho­nour: (to which distinct Head this Work is confin'd.) Honour, which Aristotle calls the Greatest of exteriour Goods: And being an Object of a nobler Ambition than the Accumulation of Wealth, is principally the Aim of that Vertue we understand by Valour; which springs from more generous Spirits, and hath been the constant Foundation of raising Men to the highest Eminence of Glory, and superiour Dignity.

BUT that Fame might not lose it self in an unbounded Notion, it was at length thought fit to reduce Honour into Form and Order, by investing the Person meriting with some particular Title or Appellation of Excellence, (the Original of all Nobility;) of which Knighthood, as it hath been accounted the most suitable Reward to the greatest Vertue, so it hath been esteemed the chief and primary Honour among many Nations.

THE Romans held Honour and Vertue in that Esteem, that they deify'd, and dedicated Temples to them: They made them so contiguous in their Situation, that there was no other Passage to that of Honour, but thro' the Temple of Vertue, mystically admonishing, that Honour was not to be attained by any other Way.

IN several of the Roman Coins we see Honour and Vertue represented together in one Reverse, and in one Medal; the Face of Honour so shadows that of Vertue, that but a little of it appears, Honour being the more illustri­ous of the two; and where we behold any Person outwardly adorned with it, we are to judge him inwardly endued with Vertue, inasmuch as Honour is his due, and justly bestowed upon him.

§. 2. IN tracing the Original of Knighthood, we are not so vain to say, with the French, that S. Michael was the premier Chevalier; yet thus much we may assert, that [...]tis near as ancient as Valour and Heroic Vertue, not­withstanding the Ceremonies and Circumstances of [...] have varied according to several Ages and Nations: And therefore, with much Probability, we may derive the [Page 3] Original of Military Honour from the Trojans and Greeks; among whom, as Knights of great Renown, were Hector, Troilus, Aene [...]s, Antenor, Agamemnon, Me­nelaus, Pel [...]us, Tydeus, &c. And thus Homer uses the Word [...] in the same Sense as Eques was afterwards among the Latins.

[...]

'Mong whom thus Nestor spake, that honour'd Knight.

§. 3. UPON a more substantial Basis we shall descend to the Romans; among whom, in the very Infancy of their Military Glory, a Society of Knights was instituted, immediately after their Union with the Sabines. Romulus inrolled Centuriae tres Equitum, three Centuries of Knights, out of the chiefest Families, whom he ap­pointed to be his Life-guard, and called them C [...]leres, from their Activity and Dispatch in Martial Affairs.

Tarquinius Priscus made an Addition to these Centu­ries; the like did Servius Tullius, who ordained, that those who should succeed in that Body, should be elected ex censu, viz. from a considerable and certain Valuation of their Estates, who had the greatest Cens [...], and were of the most Noble Families, says Dyonys. Ha­licarn. And soon after, the Equestrian Class began to be formed and constituted one of the three Orders of the Commonwealth, which were thus rank'd, according to Livy: Senatus, Ordo Equestris & Plebs; which in the Ro­man Literal Notes is set down after this Manner: CON. SEN. E. ORD. P. Q. R. And forasmuch as this Degree is placed between the Patricians, or Senators, and the Plebeians, it answers exactly the State of our Knights between the Nobility and Commonalty: And from this Order, to the Height of Nobility which resided in the Senators, was the Way prepared; Junius Brutus being the first who was raised to a Senator from the Equestrian Order.

IT was a Constitution, as old as Tib [...]rius's Reign, that none should be admitted, unless Free-born, or a Gentle­man for three Generations; and, indeed, for a long Time none were elected Knights but the best Sort of Gentlemen, and Persons of Extraction, as was the il­lustrious Ma [...]cenas.

[Page 4] A [...]avis regibus ortns eques, Mart.

who aspired no higher, not out of any Incapacity of attaining greater Honours, but that he desired them not, says Paterculus: Yet at length, thro' Corruption of Times, Plebeians and Freedmen being too frequently re­ceived into this Degree (too near a Parallel among the Knights of this Age) occasion'd their Power to grow less and less, 'till it shrunk to nothing; so that the Pla­ces and Offices of Judges which they before had execu­ted, became conferrable upon the Publicans. And when Cicero was Consul, anno ab urbe conditi 690, the Equestrian Order stood in need of Re-establishment, whereupon they were then incorporated into that Commonwealth in the third Degree, all Acts passing in the Name of the Senate, the People of Rome, and the Equestrian Order.

They often enjoy'd Abroad the Government of several Provinces, whereof Egypt had this peculiar to itself, that none of the Senators were admitted, but only those of the Equestrian Order, whose Decrees Augustus com­manded to be had in like Regard, as if the Magistrates of Rome, or Kings, Consuls, or Praetors, had pronoun­ced them.

AS a Mark of Eminence, they had the Titles of Splendidi and Illustres bestowed upon them, and some­times have been called most sacred Knights.

AND besides other Privileges, they had Seats with the Senators in the Circus Maximus; and by the Roscian Law, sat next them in the Theatres: They had likewise a College called Collegium Equitum; and Temples were dedicated to the Goddess Fortune, under the Title of Equestri Fortunae.

HAVING shewn the Dignity and Honours of the E­questrian Order among the Romans, we shall now touch upon the Degrees of Knighthood which have been Personal, and may be comprehended under the Modern Title of Equites Aurati, or Milites Simplices, (as distin­guish'd from the several Orders of Chivalry, instituted in Christendom.) In the Circumstance of whose Crea­tion we confess, nothing in the Roman Ordo Equestris hath place, tho' that might be the Ground and Original of the Dignity, and one common End in both, namely, the Pursuit of Military Exploits, and Service in the Wars.

§. 4. OF the Degrees of Knighthood. We shall first of the Monozons, i. e. Knights begirt with the Military Girdle, a Custom devolved to the Germans and Gauls from ancient Times, and from them to After-Ages.

SIR Henry Spelman notes, That the late Emperors conferred the Dignity af Knighthood with the Military Girdle instead of all other Arms, because that Part more eminent amongst them girdeth, supporteth, and adorneth the rest; whence Selden calls this Girding the most essential part of the Cere­mony. Nor do we find among the various Ceremonies of Knighthood any that have continued so constant in Practice as the endowing with Girdle and Sword, Or­naments proper to the Dignity and Marks of Honour and Vertue, with which the Statues and Portraitures of Knights, on their Grave-stones have been adorned.

FOR as at this Day Knights are styled Equites Aurati, from the Golden Spurs, heretofore put on at their Creation, so were they more anciently Singulo Miletari donati, in respect, when any one was Knighted, he was not only smitten with the Sword, but invested with Sword and Belt, yet retain'd at the creating our Knights of the Bath, as the old Formulary thus hath it; Then shall the King of great Favour take the Sword, and gi [...]d the [...]quire therewith.

Secondly, The Baccalaurei or Knights Batchelors, are to be consider'd, who are indifferently styled Chevaliers, Milites, Equites Aurati, and Knights. This Degree is truly accounted the first of all Military Dignity, and the Foundation of all Honours in our Nation, and is deri­ved from, if not the same with that immediately pre­ceding. For as the Ceremony of a gentle Touch on the Shoulder with the flat Side of the Sword hath been since used, instead of girting with the Sword and Belt, (especially in Times of War, or in Haste) as an Initia­tion into the Military Order; so on the contrary, it is not unusual now-adays, for the Prince, at least Gladi [...], if not Cingulo donare; for he oftentimes bestows the Sword upon the Person he Knigh [...]e [...].

Miraeus gives them the Epithet Aurati, from the Pri­vilege of wearing Gold upon their Swords and Spurs, omitting Tiraquel's fanciful Distinction between Miles and Eques Auratus, who allows the former to signify a Knight Noble before, and the other to deno [...]e one whom we call a Knight and no Gentleman, or applicable to the Neapo [...]an Gentlemen, (usually called Cavali [...]ri) who [Page 6] are all styled Equites, tho' they never have attained the Knightly Dignity.

THE third Sort were Knights Banerets, who so well de­serv'd in the Wars, that they were afterwards permitted to use Vexillum quadratum, a square Banner, whence they were called Equites vexillarii, or Chevaliers a Buniere from the Dutch Banerheere, Lord or Master of the Banner.

Camden conceives this Title first devis'd by K. Edward 3. in Recompence of Martial Prowess; a Recital of which Dignity is mention'd in a Patenr 20 E. 3. to John Coup­land, for his Service, in taking David King of Scots Pri­soner. But it was much more ancient with us, as well as in France; and they had particular Robes, and other Ornaments given them from the Crown, ad apparatum suum pro militia, tanquam pro Baneretto, a Rege suscipienda, &c. viz. ad unum Tunicam, &c. after which is set down the particular Robes, and other Ornaments appointed for his Creation.

To shew this Dignity yet more ancient, there is the Evidence of a Writ in K. Edw. 3d's Time, for furnishing Thomas Bardolf with the Robes of a Baneret. It is an Ho­nour esteemed the last among the Greatest, viz. Nobilitum Majorum, or the First of the Second Rank; and is placed in the Middle between the Barons and the other Knights; in which respect the Baneret may be called Vexillarius minor, as if he were the lesser Banner-Bearer; to the End he might be so differenced from the Greater, namely the Baron, to whom the Right of bearing a square Banner doth belong.

BUT there are some remarkable differences between these Knights and Knights-Batchelors; as in the Occa­sions and Circumstances of their Creations, the Baneret being not Created, unless at a Time when the King's Standard is erected, and that he bears his own Banner in the Field; whilst the Knight-Batchelor follows that which is anothers.

THIS farther difference is observed between them, that the Knight-Baneret had so many Gentlemen his Ser­vants at Command, as that he could raise a Banner, and make up a Company of Soldiers to be maintained at his Table, and with his own Pay: But the Knight-Batchelor had not sufficient for this, and therefore marched under the Banner of another; and the Wages of the Baneret were double.

[Page 7] N [...]XT to these, we are to mention Knights of the Bath, which is a Degree that hath the Investiture and Title of Knight, with an additional Denomination, derived from Part of the Ceremony of his Creation. It is the general receiv'd Opinion, that our K. Hen. 4. first instituted these Knights, which is justify'd by Sir John Froisard, who says he created 46 of them at his Coronation, chusing them from such, as were either his Favorites, or had pretensions to it from their per­sonal Merits, or Services.

BUT if the Ceremonies and Circumstances of their Creation be well consider'd, it may be inferr'd, that he rather restor'd the ancient way of making Knights, than Instituted them; and consequently that the Knights of the Bath, are really no other than Knights-Batchelors; that is, such as are created with those Ceremonies, wherewith Knights-Batchelors were formerly created by Ecclesiasticks: But some of them having been laid aside, were then brought again into Use, and made peculiar to this Degree, and since continued to them upon some solemn and great Occasion.

AT the first View they look like a distinct Order of Knighthood; but cannot be so accounted, because they have no Statutes assigned them, nor are in Case of Va­cancy, supply'd, (the Essentials of distinct Orders) nor do they wear their Robes beyond the Time of that Oc­casion upon which they were created; as chiefly, the Coronation of a King or Queen, the Creation of a Prince of Wales, Duke of York, and the like; whereas also their Number is uncertain, and always at the Pleasure of the King.

Favine calls them Knights of the Crown, because, to distinguish them from Esquires, they wore upon their Left Shoulder an Escutcheon of Black Silk embroider'd with three Crowns of Gold; but therein he mistakes, for they never used only a Silk Lace, and the Jewel they wore was made of Gold, containing three Crowns, with this Motto Tria juncta in una, hanging down under the left Arm at a Carnation Ribbon worn cross the Body.

THIS leads us to the Degree of Baronets, who seem allied to Knighthood, by having granted them the Ad­dition of Sir to be set before their Names: But this gives them not the Dignity of Knighthood; nor can they properly be flyled Knights, until they be actually Knighted.

[Page 8] IT is a Degree erected Anno 9. Jac. 1. and the Grant made by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of Eng­land. It is Hereditary to them, and the Heirs Male of their Bodies lawfully begotten, for ever; and by a subsequent Decree of the said King, Precedence is granted to them before all Banerets, except such as should be made by the King under his Standard, dis­play'd in an Army Royal in open War, and the King personally present, and next to and immediately after the younger Sons of Viscount and Barons.

THE Ground for erecting this Degree was partly Martial; for tho' themselves were not enjoined personal Service in the Wars, yet each Baronet was to maintain thirty Foot Soldiers for three Years in Ireland, after the rate of Eight Pence per Day, for the Defence of that Kingdom, and chiefly to secure the Plantation of Ulster.

THEY were at least to be descended from a Grand­father, on the Father's Side, that bore Arms, and had a Revenue of 1000 l. per Ann. or Lands of old Rents of equal Value with 1000 l. per Ann. of improv'd Lands, or at least two Parts of three of such Estate in Possession; the other third in Reversion Expectant upon one Life held only in Jointure.

THE Year after, King James I. added some new Pri­vileges and Ornaments, viz. to Knight those already made that were no Knights; and the Heirs hereafter of every Baronet should, at the Age of One and Twenty Years, receive Knighthood; likewise that all Baronets might bear in Canton, or in an Inescutcheon, the Arms of Ulster; and farther, to have place in the Armies of the King in the Gross, near about the Royal Standard.

SINCE the Institution of Baronets in England, there have been made divers in Ireland after the like Form: And the Knights of Nova Scotia in the West-Indies were ordained in Imitation of Baronets in England by the said King James, A. D. 1622. for the Planting that Coun­try by Scotch Colonies, and the Degree made likewise Hereditary.

THESE latter wear an Orange Tawny Ribbon as their Badge, to distinguish them from other Knights; and it appears, there was an Intention, 1627. to move his then Majesty, that all Baronets and Knights Bachelors might wear Ribbons of several Colours, some Badge or Jewel, in such Sort as did the Knights of the Bath, to distinguish the one from the other: But that Matter dropt.

§. 5. WE shall now observe the Etymology of Eques, Miles, Chevalier, Ritter, and Sir. The Grecians had a Title of Honour equivalent to the Signification of Eques in the Latin, from Equ [...]s, an Horse, because one Part of the Ceremony, whereby this Honour became confer­red, was the giving of an Horse; or because having an Horse at the Publick Charge, they received the Stipend of an Horseman to serve in the Wars, Horses being Symbols of War, Bello armantur equi. It is to be noted, That the Degree of Knighthood in the Dia­lects of other Nations hath rhe same Derivation: For in the French, a Knight is called Chevalier; in the Ger­man, Ridder, or Ritter, q. d. Rider; so the Gheslagen Ridder is interpreted, The dubbed Knight; in the Italian, it is Cavagliero; in the old British, Morchog; concerning which, hear one of Jeffery Chaucer's Scholars.

AND tho' the Word Miles signified at first any legally inrolled for the War, which Inrolment was twofold, Honoraria and Vulgaris; yet upon the Decay of the Ro­man Empire, upon the Irruption of the innumerable Forces of the Alani, Goths, Vandals, &c. which consisted in Horse, their Foot was rendred useless. Miles was no longer said of him that served on Foot in the Wars, but began to be properly spoken of the Horseman; whence it came into Vogue, That among the Titles of Nobili­ty, he who had that of Miles bestowed on him, was un­derstood to be Horseman, or Eques, that is, of the E­questrian Dignity.

Selden observes Miles to be equivocal: and that in the old feodal Laws of the Empire it signify'd a Gentleman, as the Word Gentleman is signify'd in Nobilis; and with us it hath been frequently used to denote both Gentle­men, and Knights; for Milites denotes Gentlemen, or great Freeholders, and not dubbed Knights, viz. such who hold by Knights Service from a Lord of [Page 10] a Mannour, and such who are chosen from the several Counties to serve in the High Courts of Parliament.

Miles, even in the Saxon Times, denoted sometimes a Dignity. But about the Year 1046, becoming a Title of Honour, it is since most generally appropriated to Persons who have received Knighthood correspondent to Eques and Chevalier, tho' indeed less proper; in regard Knighthood is the Dignity of Horsemanship, and the Tenure of Lands by Knights Fees here in England, anciently called Regale Servitium, is in truth Horse Ser­vice; and the Tenants such as served the King on Horseback in Wars, are Gentlemen at least (if not of Noble Extraction.)

Minshew says, the Equites, which heretofore followed and accompanied the Emperor, are, in the German Tongue, called Knechtes, that is, Servitors, or Ministers; but Camden says, Knecht, in Saxon Cniht, was in far more ancient Times accepted as an honorary Title; and, among the old Germans, signify'd a Person arm'd with Spear and Lance, (the Ensigns of their Knighthood) as in After-Times such were, among other Nations, adorned with a Girdle and Belt, since called Equites aurati, and sometimes simply Milites.

THE Addition Sir to the Names of all Knights Bane­rets, Knights of the Bath, and Batchelor Knights, pro­nounced at the Time when they are created, with this Compellation: Arise, Sir John, or Sir Thomas, &c. is accounted Parcel of their Style, which the Banerets en­joy by virtue of a Clause in their Patent. It is a Con­traction of the Old French Sire, taken for Seigneur, or Lord, from the Greek [...]. But how it came to be first given, we cannot find; nevertheless, our English Writers have bestowed it upon the major Part of the Nobility, after they had been received into the Order of Knighthood; and in the Life of St. Thomas Becker, written about the Time of King Edw. 1. we meet with the Title prefix'd to the Names of the four Knights, who slew the said St. Thomas.

§. 6. THE Ensigns of the Equestrian Order among the Romans, by which they were made, was a Publick Horse, or a Gold Ring; yet still, to those who had Equestrian Cense, the Horse was the ancienter Badge of the two; but when thro' the Multitude of these Knights no Publick Horses were assigned, but to such who were ready to enter upon Military Service, and to [Page 11] fight in the Legions, such were called Legionary Knights, to distinguish them from the rest, who had only receiv'd the Honour of a Gold-Ring; for they were not all employ'd in Wars.

THE Censor (after the Institution of that Offiee ab urbe condita, 310.) and afterwards the Emperor, were the Persons who bestowed this Equus Militaris, or Pub­licus, as it was called from the Annual Allowance, to keep him, which they gave unto those of known Ver­tue and approv'd Life, compelling him to serve in the Wars, tho' against his Will; (but in the more ancient Method of Election, Constraint was not used.) And upon Negligence in the Care of these Horses, or any Blemish, Reproach, or Infamy, or Loss of Patrimony in the Knights, the Horses were not only taken away, but the Knights wholly disfranchis'd. Rosinus laying down the Manner and Order used in ejecting such Knights, adds, A Recital being made of all the Knights that were inrolled, those whose Names he omitted, were thereby un­derstood to be depriv'd of that Dignity.

WHEN they had served in the Wars the Time appoint­ed by Law, it was the Custom to lead their Horses by the Bridle into the Forum, before the Duumvirs [Cen­sors,] and giving an Account under whom and what Generals or Captains they had served; they were thereupon dismissed from farther Service in the Wars: An Example whereof Plutarch relates to have been given by Pompey himself.

BUT whereas among the Roman Inscriptions we find Equo publico honoratus donatus, ornatus, and exornatus, such is not to be construed to be of Equestrian Dignity, but only to have received the praemia militaria, with which the Emperors used to recompense some particular Ex­ploit, by the Honour of such a Gift, according to Sal­masius. Equus Publicus, by a wondrous, nevertheless an accustom'd Speech, among the Romans, is the Knight, qui equo publico meret. And qui equo publico donatus, the other deserving Person.

AS to the Ring: In Genesis we read of Pharoah's taking off his Ring, and putting it upon Joseph's Hand. When they came in Fashion with the Romans, the Senators at first wore Iron ones, which were accounted the Ensign of Military Vertue, received upon a Publick Account. Howbeit, in Process of Time, when Gold Rings were drawn into Use, none but Senators and Knights had [Page 12] them. The Difference among the Rings of the three Orders in the State were, as Licetus observes, Gold Rings set with precious Stones were given to the Senators on­ly; Plain Rings without Stones to the Knights, and Iron Rings to the Plebeians, or Free-born-men; inso­much that Equestri dignitate donare, and annulo honorare, is a promiscuous Phrase in Tacitus, to give the Dignity of Knighthood; and at the Battle of Cannae, by the two Measures or Bushels of Gold Rings sent to Carthage, the Number of the Roman Knights there slain was computed.

§. 7. AT length Freed-Men being created Knights, the Jus annulorum, the Right of wearing Gold Rings, became promiscuous.

AMONG the Germans, the Shield and Lance were ac­counted the grand Badges of Military Honour, or Knighthood. This the Lombards, the Franks, and our Country-men, all descending out of Germany, used, and was to us (in the Opinion of Sir Hen. Spelman) the Foundation of the Knightly Order. Much like the ancient Germans was the Custom of making Knights among the Irish: And Favine notes the Shield and Lance were the proper Arms appertaining to a French Knight, which Esquires, Armigers, carried always after their Masters, Shields and Scutes (as they are vulgarly called) i. e. Equestrian Targets, inclining to an Oval, not Shields or Bucklers of Foot Soldiers.

ANOTHER Ensign and Ornament of Knightly Honour is, the Cingulum militare. or Balteus, which, Varro says, is Tuscan, signifying a military Girdle, which were garnished with great Buckles, Studs, and Rings of pure Gold, to shew their Dignity and Power in military Com­mands; and with such a Belt, set with Pearls and precious Stones, young Athelstan was girded, when he receiv'd Knighthood from his Grandfather King Alfred. Our Knights were no less anciently known by these Belts, than by their gilt Swords, Spurs, &c. Howbeit the Use now only appears in Knights of the Bath.

To this Belt was also added a Sword, not of Ordinary Use; and therefore termed the Sword of a Knight, which was hallowed with great Ceremony.

ANOTHER eminent Badge is the Golden Spurs, where­with, at the Time of their Creation, Knights Spurs were wont to be adorned; and to these, a little after the Conquest, were added far more and greater Oruaments. They were usually put on after the Person had been [Page 13] presented to the Prince who gave the Honour, to signify, that the new-made Knight should not only declare his Valour by his Sword, but also by the Management of his Horse, which he should encourage and excite with his Spurs, to the carrying on his valiant Designs. These Spurs have been of that Esteem, that Knight Batchelors are latinized Equites aurati; among the Germans, Ritter dess Gulden Sporns; and with us heretofore, Knights of the Spurs: And several Families by the Name of Knight, bear for their Arms the Spurs on a Canton.

IT is farther certify'd among the Rights of a Knight Baneret, that upon the Account of his Knighthood he may wear gilt Spurs, as well as a gilt Sword; and that the Spurs are essential, may be collected from the De­gradation of a Knight, where his gilt Spurs are first cut off with an Hatchet, the Case of Sir Andra Harcla. In the last Place is the Collar, an Ensign of Knightly Dig­nity among the Germans, Gauls, Britons, Danes and Goths, among whom it was customary to wear them, as deno­ting such as were remarkable for their Valour. But in lat [...]r Times, it was the peculiar Fashion of Knights among us to wear Golden Collars composed of S S. or other various Devices; so that those Monuments are known to be erected for Knights on whose Portraitures such Ornaments are found.

§. 8. THE Qualifications for Knighthood are princi­pally three. 1. Merit, the bare mentioning whereof shall suffice here. 2. Birth, viz. that the Parties who enter thereinto ought first to make appear they be Gentlemen of three Paternal Descents, bearing Coat Armour; and much the same was the Law of the Em­pire under Frederick 2. A. D. 1212. Some think it also insufficient, unless descended so by the Mother's Side; at least she must be a freed Woman. And, 3. Estate, which also serves to support the Dignity.

THUS Wealth was so much regarded among the Cha­l [...]donians, that those who were rich, bore the Name of Knights. It was Estate that entitled a Man to this Honour among the Romans; for the Censor might compel any Citizen equal to the Equestrian Cense, whom he thought fit to take that Order: And this consisted of 400000 Sesterces, i. e. 3025 l. of our Money.

AND as in Old Rome, so here in England, not long after the Conquest, they who held a Knights Fee, viz. 680 Acres of Land might claim it, says Camden. But it ap­pears from Selden, that no certain Number, or Extent [Page 14] of Acres, made a Knight's Fee [...] and Temp. Hen. 3. and Edw. 1. and 1 Edw. 2. the Census militis was measured by 20 l. by the Year, or more; and by the Royal Pre­rogative, some who held 15, then 20, at other times 30, then 40, and sometimes 50 l. Lands, were required to accept this Honour by Writs directed to the Sheriffs of the Counties, and were excused only by Reason of old Age, irrecoverable Weakness, Loss of Limbs, or being in Holy Orders; and upon all other Causes (if exempted) they paid a Fine, estimated according to the Nature of the Excuse, or length of Time given.

BUT in the promiscuous Course of Knighthood, where the Men of Wealth and Estate (whether otherwise worthy or not) became dignify'd; yet the Gate of Honour was not then shut against those, who wanting Riches, deserved well of their Country; for when Princes conferr'd such Dignities upon Men of narrow Fortunes, they usually bestowed with them annual Pen­sions, or Lands, agreeable to the Judgment of the Au­thor of the Division du monde, who saith that the Ho­nour of Knighthood is not to be given any Person who hath not a considerable Estate, unless sufficient Means to support the Honour of the Order be also given with it.

THESE Pensions are frequently mention'd in our Rolls [...] sometimes during Pleasure, and sometimes during the Life of the Knight, or till better Provision should be made for their Supports: Examples whereof are, Sir John Atte Lee, Sir Nele Loring, Sir John Walsh, Knights. The like Rewards our Kings gave to such whose Merit raised them to the Degree of a Ban [...]ret, express'd in their Patents, ad manutenendum statum Baneretti, Pro sustentatione sua, ut ipse statum Baneretti melius manutenere possit, Pro statu suo manutenendo; or Words to the like Effect: Examples where of are, Sir Reginald Cobham, Sir Thomas de Rokeley, Sir John Lysle, and Sir Roger de Swynerton, Banerets.

IT may be next consider'd who can make Knights; wherein it is apparent, that they who never were, and others who never could be Knights, have conferr'd this Dignity; yet 'tis to be understood, that Necessity and Custom hath in this Case the Force of a Law: For anci­ently, Bishops and Priests made Knights; so also do the Popes, and some Commonwealths; likewise our Queens. For the Sovereign, or the Heir apparent, tho' they be no Knights, may nevertheless do it, by reason they possess the Kingdom; and are therefore the Head and Chief of Chevalry, and consequent all the Power thereof is contained [Page 15] in their Command. To conclude this Point [...] Knighthood was always received from the Hands of another Person, either by Ceremony, or Diploma, except only the Kings of Spain, who Time out of Mind made them­selves Knights; and this by Vertue of an old Law written in the Arragonian Tongue, as Ambrosias Morales repotts. And, to shew that no Man upon Earth hath any Power over him, he shall gird himself with the Sword made after the [...]orm of a Cross; and that Day can no other Man be Knighted.

§. 9. Of the Ceremonies and Formalities used at the Conferring of Knighthood, the most ancient was per­form'd by putting the Belt Ioose over the Shoulder, or girding it close about the Waste. The Bend in Armoury represents the one, and the Fess the other. The first Christian Kings at giving this Belt kissed the new Knight on the Left Cheek, saying, In the Honour of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I make you a Knight. It was called Osculum pacis, the Kiss of Favour, or Bro­therhood, and is presumed to be the Accollade, or Cere­mony of Imbracing, which Charles the Great used when he Knighted his Son Lewis the D [...]bonair. It was in the Time of the same Emperor, the Way of Knighting by the Colaphum, or Blow on the Ear, used in Sign of sustaining future Hardships, which is thought to have been deriv'd from the Manner of Manumission of a Slave among the Romans; a Custom long after retained in Germany and France. Thus William Earl of Holland, who was to be Knighted before he could be Emperor, at his being elected King of the Romans, received Knighthood by the Box of [...]he Ear, &c. from John King of Bohemia, A. D. 1247.

IN the Time of the Saxons here in England, Knights re­ceived their Institutions at the Hands of Great Prelates or Abbots; which, according to their Opinion, render'd them more auspicious. In the accomplishing of which Solem­nity, they added many religious Ceremoni [...]s, as Watch­ing, Fasting, Bathing, and Consecrating the Sword; an Instance of which we have in Heward Lord of Brune, in in Lincolnshire, who received this Honour from Brand, Abbot of St. Edmundsbury. But not long after the Con­quest, this Custom was restrained by a Synod a, Westmin­st [...]r, A. D. 1102. 3 H. 1. whic [...] among other Things ordained Ne Abbates [i. e. all Spiritnal Persons] saciunt militas [...] However the religious Ceremonies for the most part continued, especially Vigils and Bathings, as ap­pears by that grand Solemnity at the Creation of 267 Knights, Son [...] of Earls, Barons, and Knights, upon [Page 16] Whitsontide, anno 34 Edw. 1. cited by Selden and Camden. And these Formalities the Saxons and Normans, not only here in England, but the French, Spaniards, and other Nations, observ'd, concluding from it, that decency of Habit was as well expected from them, as Integrity of Life, and purity of Manners. And the like religious Ceremony was heretofore observ'd in Spain at the Crea­tion of Knights, whether Cavelleros de Espuela d' Orada, or Amados [our Knights Batchelors,] In this Form, the Person to be Knighted was bathed in the Evening, and presently laid in Bed; then cloathed in rich Robes, and led to the Church to perform his Vigils: That being over, and Mass heard, his Spurs were put on, and his Sword girt about him, then drawn out, and put into his Right Hand; whereupon the Oath was forthwith administred to him; which taken, he that bestowed the Dignity gave him una Pesconade, a Blow, or Stroke on the Neck, saying, God assist you in the Performance of your Promise.

THE Oath or Vow the Knights professed, was in ge­neral, to relieve and protect Widows, the Fatherless, Oppressed and Miserable, and to defend the Church of God; which to keep and perform was esteem'd as meri­torious, as to do all that a Monk, Frier, or Canon Regular should.

THERE is also mention (by Mr. Selden) of consecrating the Sword, offering it at the Altar, and receiving it again from thence, as an implicit Kind of taking an Oath. But as in Peace and great Leisure these tedious Ceremo­nies were used, yet it was otherwise in Times of War, or on a Day of Battle, where Hurry and Throng of Affairs would not permit; and therefore, as well be­fore the joining of Battle, as after Victory obtained, it was usual for the Prince or General in the Field, on Sight of the Army, to give those whom he thought fit to advance to that Honour (they humbly kneeling be­fore him) a Stroke with a naked Sword flatwise upon their Shoulders, or else to touch their Heads or Shoul­ders lightly, without any other Ceremony, except pronouncing Sis Eques in nomine Dei; to which he adds, Rise, Sir—Knight, or in the French, Sus, or Sois, Che­valier, au nom de Dieu, which we commonly call Dubbing, the old English Word used for Creating [Consecrating] a Knight, from doopen to dip, by Bathing.

ANOTHER Manner of creating Knights Abroad was, by Royal Codicils, or Letters Patents (these the Spaniards [Page 17] call Privilegios de Cavelleria) whereupon such Knights are intitled Equites Codicellares; and these were sent to such as dwelt in remote Countries, and sometimes, but rarely, extended so as to make the Degree heredi­tary. There is one Example, that by the bare signi­fication of Letter, without any Ceremonies or Patents under Seal; Philip IV. of Spain, Jan. 15. 1633. con­ferr'd upon all the Captains that behav'd themselves valiantly in Defence of Mastricht (then lately besieg'd by the Hollanders) to those that were Gentlemen, the Title of Knights; and to others, that of Gentlemen.

HAVING thus briefly shew'd the various Forms of Crea­tion of Knights Batchelors, I shall remark what Seld [...]n has observ'd of Knights Bannerets in later Times, wherein he that was advanc'd to that Honour in the Field, was in­ducted between two Senior Knights with Trumpets be­fore them, and the Heralds carrying a long Banner of his Arms, call'd a Penon; in which Manner being brou [...]ht to the King or Lieutenant, who bidding him good Suc­cess, the Tip of the Banner is cut off, that of an Obl [...]ng it might become a Square, like the Banner of a Baron: This done, he returns to his Tent, conducted as b [...] ­fore. As for the many and various Formularies at the Creation of a Knight of the [...]ath, see Sir Edward [...]ys [...] among his Not [...]s upon Utton and Sir William Dugdale's Warwicksh. The Knights of the Bat [...], at the Coronation of King Charles II. watched and bathed; they took an Oath; they were girded with a Sword and Belt; and lastly, dubbed by the King with the Sword of State.

§ 10. IN the Dignity, Honour and Renown of Kni [...]ht­hood, is included somewhat of Magnificence more excel­lent than Nobility it self; which mounting the Royal Throne, becomes the Assertor of Civil Nobility, and [...]its as Judge at the Tribunal therefore. Knight is noted by Camden as a Name of Dignity, but Baron is not so. For if heretofore a Baron had not receiv'd Knighthoo [...], he was written plainly by his Christian Name, and that of his Family, without any Addition but that of Do­minus, a Term attributed to a Knight; and in ancient Charters, the Titles and Names of Knights may be seen set before Barons. It bestows Gentility not onl [...] upon the meanly Born, but upon h [...]s Descendant [...] [...] [Page 18] [...]ncreaseth the Honour of those well-descended. Here­unto agrees the Common-Law: If a Villain be made a Knight, he is thereby immediately enfranchised, and consequently accounted a Gentleman; agreeable to the Roman Law, where the Donation of a Gold-Ring ennobled a Slave. Moecen [...]s dy'd a Companion of that Order; even Kings and Princes look upon it as an Accession to their Honour, their other Titles shewing Dominion and Power, this their Valour and Courage. Geysa, King of Hungary, Leopold, Mar­quis of Austria, Ottacher, Duke of Stiria, and Frederick, Duke of Austria and Stiria; Godfry, Duke of Brabant, with Henry his Son, Peter, King of Arragon, the Empe­ror Henry III. our William Rufus, King Edward III. Hen­ry VI. Henry VII. Edward VI. Lewis XI. Francis I. Kings of France, and others, received this Dignity at the Time they enjoy'd their other Titles. And tho' it is said the Sons of the French King are Knights as soon as they re­ceive Baptism, yet are they not judg'd worthy the Kingdom, unless first solemnly created. And we else­where find, that the Royal Heirs of Arragon were sus­pended from that Crown, until they had received the Honour of Knighthood. And after the Norman Con­quest, our young Princes were sent over to the neigh­bouring Kings to receive this Honour. Thus our King Henry II. was sent to David, King of Scots, and Knight­ed by him in Carlisle; and Edward I. at the Age of Fif­teen Years, to Alphonsus XI. King of Castile, for the same Dignity. In like manner did foreign Princes repair hither, to receiv [...] the Honour from our Kings. As Malcolme, King of Scotland, and Alexander, Son of Wil­liam, King of Scotland, Knighted by our King John, Anno 1212. So was Alexander III. by our King Henry III. at York, Anno 1252. and Magnus, King of the [...]sle of Man, by the same King. All which sufficiently demon­strate the great Renown of Knighthood, and the Ho­no [...]r and Esteem which was ever had for that Order.

§ 1. THE Grounds and Causes of founding Socie­ties or Knightly Orders, were several and different, tho' all terminated in one End. Among which, principally were these, First, A sincere Love to Honour, and therein chiefly to excite and pro­mote Vertue by suitable Rewards; such was the Design of King Arthur, when he formed himself and other Martial Men into a Fellowship, which he stiled Knights of the Round Table. Secondly, To repress the Incursions and Robberies of the Saracens and Barbarians, to vindicate the Oppressed, redeem the Enslaved, and to entertain and relieve Pilgrims and Strangers, which were Part of the Duties the Knights Hospitallers and Templars, &c. stood engag'd in. A third Reason was, To Fight in Defence of the Christian Faith, against Pagans and Infidels; to enlarge the Christian Territories, and promote the Service of the Catholick Church: And indeed their Zeal very much advanced Christianity. Lastly, When Sovereign Princes perceived themselves embroiled in Wars or dangerous Factions, the erecting such an Order or Society was, that they might by such a Tye restore Peace, quiet all Jealousies, unite Affecti­ons, and secure a lasting Friendship and powerful Assi­stance, both for their own and their Country's Safety. And to this End were Badges of several Orders devised, as Pledges of Remembrance to quicken and establish their Friendship.

§ 2. THESE Orders are of Two Kinds, 1. Religious, or Ecclesiastical; and, 2. Military, or Secular.

§ 3. THE Institutions of the latter Sort were after a while thought too weak to continue, if not sustained [Page 20] by Religion and Piety; and too defective without ad­joyning Ecclesiastical Persons thereunto. Therefore the Founders, considering Divine Assistance should con­cur with Military Industry, began to dedicate these Or­ders to the Honour and Worship of God, or to our Saviour, or to the blessed Virgin, or some other of the Saints, to gain the Protection and Favour of Heaven, more easily, as they thought, obtainable by the Prayers and Offices of the Clergy. Whereupon some in their Institution joyned Sacred Orders to their Military, and made Provision for Sacred Persons to pray for their Pro­sperity at home, while they were engaged abroad. Hence King Ed [...]. III. at the first Institution of the Gar­ter, appointed Thirteen Secular Canons, and Thirteen Vicars to attend the Celebration of Divine Offices. Up­on the same Account certain Foundations of Divine Service were erected at Bug [...]y, for the Order of the An­nunciads; at Dijon, for the Order of the Golden Fleece; and at Mont St. Michael in Normandy, for the Order of St. Michael.

4. I shall now deliver a brief Account of the Reli­gious Orders of Knighthood, proceeding according to their Antiquity.

§ 1. HAVING particulariz'd the Religious Orders, I shall proceed to those accounted absolutely Military. Among them,

§ 2. 1. In the West-Indies, Montezuma, King of Mexico, set Knighthood in the highest Splendor, ordaining cer­tain military Orders, with several Badges and Ensigns. The most honourable among the Knights were those that carry'd the Crown of their Hair ty'd with a little Red Ribbon, having a rich Plume of Feathers, from which did hang Branches and Rolls of Feathers upon their Shoulders. They carry'd as many Rolls as they had done gallant Exploits in the Wars; and the King himself and his Sons were of this Order; which Pur­chas calls Eagle Knights.

2. THERE was another Order, call'd Of the Lyons and Tygers. These Knights being commonly the most vali­ant in the Wars, always bore with them their Badges and Armories.

3. OTHER Knights there were, as The Grey Knights, not so much respected as the rest. They had their Hair cut round about the Ears: They made War upon their Enemies with Ensigns like other Knights, and were only arm'd to the Girdle, while the most Ho­nourable were Cap-a-Pee'd. All Knights might carry Gold and Silver, be array'd in rich Cotton, have the use of painted and gilt Vessels, and wear Shoes; but the common People only the earthen sort; neither might they carry Shoes nor Attire themselves, but in a gross Stuff. Every Order had their Lodging assign'd them in the Palace, distinguish'd by their proper En­signs: The first was the Lodging of the Prince, the second of Eagles, the third of Lyons and Tygers, and the fourth of Grey Knights.

THE Province of Cinaloa (near New Mexico) created their Knights by giving a Bow, and setting them to en­counter a Lyon or some other wild Beast.

THE Inguas, or Lords of Peru, dedicated their Chil­dren to Honour, by adorning them with Guarras or [Page 77] Ensigns. They pierced their Ears, whip'd them with Slings [...] smeared their Faces with Blood, in order they should be true Knights to the Ingua. Those of Royal Ex­traction, before they received the Order of Knighthood abstained Seven Days from all manner of Nutr [...]ment, except a little raw Grain and Water, and after being heartned and brisked up again, performed some Military Exercises, also Racing, Wrestling, Leaping, Shooting, Slinging, throwing the Dart and Lance, &c. and en­during to be beaten on the Hands and Legs with Wands; these being as it were the Tests whether they could endure the Hardships of War or no; for if they did not sustain them manfully, they were denied Knighthood. The Ceremonies being performed by boaring an Hole in the Ears, putting on gallant Shoes, and wearing of the Breeches, which before they were restricted, adorning their Heads with Flowers, and ha­ving the Privilege of an Herb that none but themselves cou'd make use of, and lastly giving an Axe into their Hands. Menenius calls these Knights Oreiones, from the Spanish Orejas, flop or loll-eared, in the Latin Auri­culares, from the Leaf which they bore hanging in their Ears, or because they only negotiated Affairs with the Emperor, and had his Ear at all times.

IN Japan there's an Order of Knights called Mengoras, part of whom are called Bonzees, living in Fraternities, as our Religionists in Europe. Some of these have the Charge of their Idols, and the Service relating to their Temples, others follow the Wars. They profess Cha­stity with such Severity, that no Woman is allow'd to enter their Cities. They govern the Kingdoms they conquer, and are so very opulent that some of them possess 60000 Duckets per Annum; and have a publick Armory well stored to make use of upon any Exigence, which is maintain'd by a daily Contribution. Women have been excluded their Share in this Way of Honour, tho' their Courage and Valour have equalized the Amazons of old; the Example is of the noble Women of Tortosa in Spain, or the Femme Cavaliers of the Torchi. Micheli barely calls them Chavalleros, or rather Chavalleras, seeing the Latins have had the Words, Equitissae & Mili­tissae, to express, Virago's and H [...]roines.

[Page 78] DON Raymond, last Earl of Barcelona, having in the Year 1149. reduced the City of Tortosa from the Moors, on the Thirty First following they laid a fresh Siege to it, in hopes to recover it. The Inhabitants were at length reduced to great Streights; they desired Relief of the Earl, but he not being in a Condition to answer their Request, they had Thoughts of a Surrender; which the Women to prevent put on the Apparel of the Men, and by a resolute Salley forced the Moors to raise the Siege. The Gallantry of the Action the Earl ac­knowledged by granting them several Privileges, and to perpetuate the Memory instituted this Order, somewhat like a Military one, and none were to be ad­mitted, only those brave Women, and the Honour to de­rive to their Descendants, and assigned them for a Badge a Thing like a Fryer's Capouche, sharp at the Top, after the Form of a Torch, of a Crimson Colour, to be worn upon their Head-Cloaths; that at all publick Meetings the Women should have Precedence of the Men, and should be exempted from all Taxes, and that all the Apparels and Jewels left by their dead Husbands should be theirs.

A more general Ornament of Honour peculiar to the Fair Sex is the Cordon, which some will have to be an Order, or Equivalent thereunto. The Institution is attributed to Anne Britaigne, Wife to Charles VIII. of France, who instead of the Military Belt or Collar, be­stowed a Cordon or Lace on several Ladies, admonishing them to live chastly and devoutly, always mindful of the Cords and Bonds of our Saviour, and to engage them to a greater Esteem of it, she surrounded her Escutcheon of Arms with the like Cordon; from which Example the Arms of unmarried Ladies and Gentle­women are usually adorn'd with them.

HAving dispatch'd the several Orders of Knight­hood, and trac'd them from their proper Foun­tains, we come now to treat of the most Noble Order of the Garter; an Order, that not only grants Merit, and Honourable, and Valiant Exploits at Home, but what Imperial Heads and Persons, fam'd for the An­tiquity of their Race, or Gallantry of Actions, have al­ways esteem'd a further Advancement to their Glory therein to be enroll'd. For the better Explanation, it will be necessary to begin with the Description of the Castle, Chapel, and College of Windsor. The Place claims no greater Antiquity than of the Saxons, named by them Windleshore, and, as Cambden conjectures, had the Denomination from the Winding of a Shore thereabouts, as did Wandsworth in Surry, heretofore written Wind­lesworth. The first authentick Notice is from the Donation which King Edward the Confessor made thereof to the Monks of Westminster, (as the Charter ex­presses it) For the Hope of eternal Reward, the Remission of all his Sins, the Sins of his Father, Mother, and all his An­cestors, to the Praise of Almighty, &c. he grants Wyndle­shore, with all its Appurtenances, as an Endowment and perpetual Inheritance, to the Use of the Monks there, and at Westminster, that served GOD. Those Monks en­joy'd it not long, for King William the Conqueror, in the first Year of his Reign, being greatly [...]namour'd with the p [...]easant Situation and Commodiousness of the Place, s [...]tna [...]e so near the Thames, and the Wood fit for Game [...] i [...]vited Eadwin, the then Abbor, and the M [...]nks, to ac­cept in Exchange f [...]r it, Wokendune in Essex, a Mansion called Ferings, with all its Members and Hamlers, to­gether with Fourteen Sokemen and their Lands, and o [...]e Fr [...]hol [...]er, and Three Houses in Colchester, all in Essex, [...]n e which it has remained in the Crown.

The King being thus possess'd, forthwi [...]h built a Castle upon the Hill, which, in Doomsd [...]y Book, contained [Page 80] half an Hide of Land, and is there noted to be Parcel of the Mannor of [Clivore] Clure. This Castle King Henry I. rebuilt, and beautified with great Magni­ficence, and, in the Tenth Year of his Reign, held his Whitsontide there with great State and Splendor. Short­ly after, in a Charter of Peace between King Stephen and Duke Henry, (King Henry II. afterwards) this Castle was called Mola de Windesor, the Fortress of Windesor. Within this Castle was King Edward III. born, (com­monly called Edward of Windsor) and was baptized in the old Chapel; and so great was his Affection to that Place, that he constituted it the Seat of the most noble Order of the Garter; and to embellish it the more, he founded the College of the Chapel of St. George, and much enlarged, and beautified the Castle.

For this Work he appointed several Surveyors, whom he assigned to press Hewers of Stone, Carpenters, and such other Artificers as were thought useful and neces­sary, as also to provide Stone, Timber, and all other Materials for them. William de Wyckham (who attained to be Bishop of Winchester) was one of these Supervisors, and had that Place conferr'd on him by Letters Patent, October 30. Ed. III. And a Grant of the same Fee was likewise allowed to Robert de Bernham, viz. One Shilling a Day, while he was at Windsor, Two Shillings when he went elsewhere about that Affair, and Three Shillings per Week to his Clerk; afterwards he was chief Custos and Surveyor of this Castle, of the Mannors of Old and New Windsor, and of other Castles, Mannors, &c. be­longing to the King, to provide Workmen, and lo [...]k after the Repairs, and in those Mannors to hold Leets and other Courts, Pleas of Trespass and Misdemeanours.

About the 34^th of Ed. III. it is presumed the most con­siderable Enlargement of the Castle was made, seeing there was then great Store of the ablest Diggers and Masons impress'd, by virtue of Writs directed to the [...]e­veral Sheriffs, with Command under 100 l. Penalty to send them to Windsor the Sunday after the Feast of St. George, to work at the King's Charge, from whence they were not to depart without Wyckham's License, Se­curity having been first taken by the Sheriffs, and re­turned into Chancery. London found Forty; Essex, in conjunction with Her [...]ford, Forty; Wilts, Leicester, with [Page 81] Worcester, Cambridge, with Huntington Forty, Kent, Gloucester, Somerset, with Devon, and Northampton, one with another, found also Forty a-piece. And be­cause divers of these Workmen, for Gain and Advantage, clandestinely left Windsor to the Hindrance of the Work, all Persons were forbid to employ or retain them under Forfeiture of all they had, and likewise to arrest those that withdrew themselves from the Work, and commit them to Newgate. A. 36. Ed. III. many of them being swept away by the Pestilence, the like Writs were directed to other Sheriffs, under a Hundred Pound Pe­nalty, to send able Men; whereupon the Counties of York sent Sixty, Derby Twenty Four, Salop Sixty, Here­ford Fifty, Nottingham Twenty Four, Lancaster Twenty Four, and Devon Sixty. A. 37. Ed. III. The noble Edifice was ready for Glazing, and of Twenty Four of that Occupation impress'd for the King's Service, Twelve were to be employed at Windsor. In this Year and the next a great Proficiency was made, and vast Quantities of Stone were amassed, dug out of the Quarries of Wellesfor, Newel, and Carby, and other Places. From the 37th to the 43d, the Building of the Castle was diligently pursued. We find no Addition to this august Pile till his 48th Year, and after that Time nothing more during his Reign, so that it is supposed this Fa­mous Piece for Magnificence and Str [...]ngth was then chiefly finished, viz. the Great Hall of St. George, the Lodgings on the East and South side of the Upper Ward, the Keep or Tower in the Middle Ward, the Chapel of St. George, the Houses for the Custos and the Canons in the Lower Ward, with the whole Circumference of the Walls, their several Towers and Gates, as in the pre­sent Posture they remain.

IN succeeding Times King Hen. VII. added that state­ly Fabrick adjoining to the King's Lodgings, in the Upper Ward. King Hen. VIII. re-edified the great Gate at the Entrance into the Lower Ward. King Edw. VI. began, and Queen Mary perfected the Conveying the Water, from Blackmore-Park in Wingfield Parish, into a Fountain of curious Workmanship erected in the Mid­ [...]e Ward, which supplied all the Castle. Queen Eliza­beth made a Terrace Work on the North side of the [Page 82] Castle; from whence there is a pleasant Prospect down upon Eaton-bridge, the Thames, and the adjacent Coun­try. King Charles I. A. D. 1636. built the Gate at the East end of the Terrace, which leads into the Park. And lastly, King Charles II. greatly beautified and re­pair'd the Fabrick, and furnish'd it with a curious Ar­mory; and, in fine, every Thing is so fitly disposed and ordered, that they are worthy of the Notice of every nice and curious Traveller.

CAMDEN elegantly describes its Situation in Prose in this manner: From an Hill (says he) that rises with a gentle Ascent, it enjoyeth a most delightful Prospect round about; foreright, in the Front, it ov [...]rlooketh a Vale, lying out far and wide, garnish [...]d with Corn Fields, flourishing with Meadows, deck'd with Groves on either side, and watered with the most mild and calm River Thames. Behind it arise Hills every where, neither rough nor over high, attired, as it were with Woods, and even dedicated, as one would say, by Nature, to hunting Game.

And thus Denham's Muse pourtrays it:

[Page 83] This Castle is under the Government of a Constable, s^o call'd in the Reign of King John, and has bore that Deno­mination ever since: The Office is of great Antiquity, Honour and Power, but of small Revenue, for it is partly Military and Civil; as Military he commands the Castle and any Garrison placed therein, and is obliged to defend it against all Enemies whatsoever; all the Prisoners brought hither are committed to his Charge, and is answerable for all that is in the Castle to the King, un­der whom he is Commander, as a Civil Officer. He is Judge of a Court of Record held there by Prescription, for determining, by way of Common Law, all Pleas between Party and Party, arising within the Precincts of the Forest of Windsor, and Liberties thereof, which compriseth many Towns, and all legal Processes issue out in his Name. He is allowed a Deputy learned in the Law, who is called the Steward of the Court of Record, and is Keeper of the Constable's Seal of Office. This Officer supplies the Constable's Place as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, from whose Judgment the Appeal is by Writ of Error returnable in the King's-Bench, or Common Pleas at Westminster. The Constable is likewise Forester and Warden of the Forest of Wind­sor, which is an 120 Miles in compass. He hath under him one or more Lieutenants at his Pleasure, and may imprison any Trespasser in Vert and Venison Convict, having a Prison in the Castle for that Purpose, named the Coalhole. He hath the Freedom of using the Sports of the Forest, which is granted to no Person without his or the King's License, and signs all Warrants to kill Deer, (except what the King signs) and is to fell Timber and Wood.

HE that was Chastelain (the French Word for Consta­ble) in William the Conqueror's Reign was Walter Fitz Other, from whom the Family of the Barons of Windsor are de­scended, and the Earls of Plimouth, bearing the Sur­name of Windsor. Temp. Car. II. Prince Rupert was Constable.

WE come next to the Chapel of St. George, which is situate in the Lower Ward or Court of this Castle, and so named by King Ed [...]. III. shortly after he had found­ed the College mention'd in the next Section; he having [Page 84] pulled down the old Chapel erected there by King Henry I. and dedicated to King Edward the Confessor, to raise a more stately Structure in its stead; to bring which Marter to Perfection, in the 24th Year of his Reign, John de Spoulee had the Office of Master of the Stone-Hewers, and had Power to provide Masons, and other Artificers, to whose Care they were entrusted. In Anno 25. Ed. I. John de Dorchester, Sub-Constable of the Castle, was appointed to keep a Controul upon all the Provisions bought for the Works of the Chapel, as well as on the Payments, and all other Affairs relating thereunto. To this Fabrick he erected several Houses adjoining, for the Custos and Canons to reside in; and afterwards King Hen. IV. gave them the void Place in the Castle call'd the Woodhall, nigh the great Hall, for building of Houses and Apartments for the Vicars, Clerks, and Choristers, and the other Ministers, assigned for the Service of the Chapel; but King Edw. IV. ob­serving the Walls and Foundation of the Chapel sapped and consumed, and esteeming the Fabrick not stately or sp [...]cious enough, designed another more noble and ex­cellent in its Room: In order to it Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salisbury, was constituted Master and Survey­or of the Work, who had Power from the King to re­move all Impediments, demolished divers of the Offi­ci [...]ry Houses, and other irregular Piles and decay'd Walls, and dug up their Foundations, particularly those ancient Buildings on the East side of the Chapel, which extended unto the Walls on the North side of the Castle, where the Towers, viz. C [...]urey's Tower, and Le Amenery's Tower, and B [...]rney's Tower, were situated; as also on the South side of the Chapel, unto the Belfry there, exclusively; the Materials whereof he might bestow upon any Build­ings in th [...] Castle, as he thought convenient. How well the B [...]shop discharged this Office, appears from the Preamble of his Patent, whereby that King conferred o [...] him the Chancellorship of the Carter, in which is set forth, That out of meer Love towards the Order, he had given himself the Leisure daily to attend the Advancement and Pro­gress of this goodly Fabrick.

FROM this Erection of K. Ed. IV. arose the elegant and beauteous Structure now standing, enlarged in Length [Page 85] at least an Hundred Fathom (tho' it did not arrive to it^s Perfection until the Reign of King Henry VIII.) together with the Dean and Canons Houses on the North side of the Chapel, and those of the Petty Canons raised at the West End, in form of a Fetter-lock (one of King Edward the IVth's Badges) and so vulgarly call'd. Temp. Henry VII. Sir Reginald Bray, Knight of the Garter, be­came a liberal Benefactor, finishing the Body of the Chapel, and rearing the Middle Chapel on the South thereof, which still retains his Name, and where his Body lies interred, as is manifest by his Arms, Badges, &c. cut in Stone, and by his last Will. Anno 21. Hen. VII. John Hylmer and William Vertu [...], Free Ma­sons, undertook the Vaulting the Roof of the Choir (a curious Piece of Architecture) for 700 l. and finish'd it by Christmas, 1508. Anno 8 Henry VIII. the Rood Loft, and Lanthorn, were erected, with the Contributions raised by the Knights Companions. Near to the East end of this Chapel, was a little Fabrick of Free-Stone, raised by Cardinal Wolsey, call'd the Tomb House, in the Middle whereof he designed to erect a Monument for King Henry VIII. and had almost finished it before he died; but this was demolished, 1646. by command of the Long Parliament; and all the Copper Figures, ex­ceedingly enriched by Art, carry'd thence. This Place King Charles I. intended to enlarge, for the Interment of his own Royal Body, and those of his Successors; but those villainous Times drawn on, they with much ado afforded him but a mean obscure Place near the first high Place in the Choir of this Chap [...]l, in the same Vault where the Bodies of King Henry VIII. and his last Queen yet remain.

IN this Chapel, besides many of the Knights Com­panions, repose the Body of King Hen. VI. removed from Cher [...]sey Abbey in Surrey, deposited under the Up­permost Arch at the South side of the Altar, without any Monument or Inscription, and likewise that of King Edw. IV. under a large Stone of Tuch, raised within the opposite Arch, at the North side of the Al­tar, but without Inscription, having on the outside of his Grave a Range of Steel gilt, to inclose it from the North Isles, cut excellent well in Church-work.

[Page 86] OVER this Arch hung this King's Coat of Mail, co­ver'd over with Crimson Velvet, and thereon the Arms of England and France quarter'd and richly embroider'd with Pearl and Gold, interwoven with divers Rubies; which Trophy had remain'd over his Monument ever since his Interment, till plunder'd by Captain Fogg, 1642. who at the same time sacrilegiously robb'd the Chapel of all its Altar-Plate.

WITHIN this Chapel were several Chantries en­dow'd with Lands and other Revenues, for Chaplains and Priests to sing Masses for the Souls of their Foun­der's Kindred.

William of Wickham, Bishop of Winchester, in 3 Hen. IV. gave Two Hundred Marks to the Dean and Chapter, to buy Twenty Marks per Annum to maintain one Chaplain.

18 Ed. IV. The Feoffees of Richard, Duke of Gloc [...] ­ster, gave the Mannors of Bentfieldbury in Essex, Knapton in Norfolk, and Chetlesworth in Suffolk for a daily Mass.

22 Ed. IV. Sir Thomas St. Leger founded a Chantry of Two Priests, who were to officiate in the middle Cha­pel on the North Side of the Church; and the said King, by his Will, ordain'd Two Priests to serve at his Tomb, with an Exhibition of Twenty Marks yearly a-piece.

9 Hen. VII. There was another Chantry Priest assign'd for Thomas Pasche and William Hermer, &c. who was to perform his Office at the Altar on the North Side the new Church.

13 Hen. VII. Margaret, Countess of Richmond, founded a Chantry for Four Chaplains, to celebrate Mass in the East Part of the new Work of the Chapel.

18 Hen. VII. William, Lord Hastings, founded a Chan­try for One Priest, on the North Side of the Choir, about the middle whereof this Lord lies.

21 Hen. VII. Charles Somerset, Lord Herbert, (afterwards Earl of Worcester) left a Secular Priest for a daily Mass, &c. to be said in the South Chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, where he lies inter [...]'d. Both these Lords have built Appartments adjoyning for their Chantry Priests, now to be seen and distinguish'd by [Page 87] their Arms, garter'd and cut in Stone over their seve­ral Doors.

To these we shall add the Foundation of the new Commons, erected over against the North Door of the Body of St. George's Chapel, by James Denton one of the Canons, Anno 11 Hen. VIII. for the Lodging and Diet­ing such of the Chantry Priests, Choristers and stipen­diary Priests, who had before no certain Place where to hold Commons in, which he furnish'd with all proper Utensils, the Charge amounting to 489 l. 7 s. 1 d. in lieu of which the Choristers were to say certain Prayers when they enter'd the Chapel, commemorate his Death, and pray for his and the Souls of all the Faithful de­parted.

IN this Chapel of St. George there were heretofore several Anniversaries or Obits held and celebrated, which we pass over. And as it was usual for some of the military Profession to spend the Remains of their Lives in pious Speculations, for their King and Coun­try, and the Salvation of their own Souls, Permission was allow'd to the well-dispos'd Knights of the Garter, who retir'd from the Noise and Bustle of the World, to make their Abode there; yet so as to maintain them­selves out of their own Revenues. King Henry VIII. ordain'd that the Sovereign should assign them conve­nient Appartments within the Castle; and the like Fa­vour he granted to other Knights, tho' not of the Or­der; but the Lodgings to be such as the Sovereign and Knights Companions should decree: However, we do not find the Knights Companions made use of the Benefit, but only for their better Accommodation at the grand Feast of the Order, &c. A Motion was made, 14 Car. I. that they might have Lodgings assign'd them in the great Court, which they offer'd to repair at their own Charge, since all the Officers had Conveni­encies in the Castle, but the Knights Companions none, which the King did not dissent to, provided it be without Exclusion of the great Officers of State.

§ 3. WITHIN the Chapel of the Castle, erected by King Henry I. was founded a College for Eight Canons, to be maintain'd by an annual Pension out of the Ex­chequer. King Edw. II. founded here a Chantry for [Page 88] Four Chaplains and Two Clerks; as likewise a Cha­pel in the Park of Windsor, under the same Regulation, for Four more Chaplains, whom King Edw. III. re­mov'd and joyn'd to those before settled in the Cha­pel of the Castle, and built Habitations for their bet­ter Accommodation, on the South Side thereof.

THE Foundation we treated of here was confirm'd by Letters Patent, dated at Westminster, Aug. 6. 22 Edw. III. three Quarters of a Year before he erected The Order of the Garter, when he laid the Foundation of the ancient Chapel a-fresh, in honour of God, the Virgin Mary, St. George and St. Edward the Confessor; and or­dain'd, that to King Henry's Eight Canons there should be annex'd One Custos, Fifteen more Canons, and Twenty Four Alms-Knights, together with other Mi­nisters, all under the Power of the Custos, and these to be supported out of the Revenues wherewith this Chapel should be endow'd: Upon which Pope Cle­ment VI. 1351. by his Bull directed to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Winchester, approved in part the King's Intention.

THE next Year the Statutes and Ordinances of the College commenc'd, by Virtue of the Pope's Authority [...] the King's Command, and Consent of the Bishop of Salisbury, in whose Diocess the Chapel is situate. By which Statutes, Winchester (one of the Pope's Delegates) instituted a College, within the Precincts of the Cha­pel of St. George, consisting of one Custos, Twelve Se­cular Canons, Thirteen Priests or Vicars, Four Clerks, Six Choristers, and Twenty Six Alms-Knights, besides other Officers.

DEAN.

§ 4. THE first Custos was John de la Chambre, consti­tuted Nov. 14. 22 Edw. III. to whom succeeded William Mugg [...] on the 18th of June following: Which Mugg is the first, if the Institution of the College bears Date by Papal, and not Kingly Authority. After him were others that were call'd by the same Title; till the last Year of King Henry IV. when Thomas Kingston was pre­sented by the Name of Dean; and his Successor, John Arundel, observing divers Endowments granted to the [Page 89] College alternately, by the Name of Custos, Dean and Custos, or lastly of Dean only; and doubting this Variation of Titles in Time might bring Inconvenien­ces upon the Foundation, petition'd the Parliament, 8 Hen. VI. whereupon the King, by Letters Patent un­der the Great Seal, granted that the said John should be Custos sive Decanus for Life, and his Successors Cusiodes sive Decani, Wardens or Deans of the Free Chapel of St. George, within the Castle of Windsor; and that the Custos, or Dean and Canons thereof, and their Succes­sors, by that Appellation, should have and hold, to them and their Successors for ever, all Lands, Tene­ments, &c. Liberties, &c. devolv'd upon the College at any Time before: So that here was a kind of new Incorporation, by the Title of Custos, or Deans and Canons only; at least this was a great Step to com­pleat the Privilege they after enjoy'd, when thro' the Interest of Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salisbury, then also Dean of Windsor, and Chancellor of the Order, King Edw. IV. by Letters Patent dated Dec. 6. in the 19th Year of his Reign, model'd them by the Name of Dean and Canons of the Free Chapel of St. George within the Castle of Windsor, one Body corporate in Thing and Name, with a perpetual Succession, and ca­pable in Law to purchase, receive and take Lands, &c. in Fee and Perpetuity; to have a common Seal, and might plead and be impleaded by that Name; and for better Security, the Letters Patent of Incorporation were, within Three Years after, pass'd into an Act of Parliament now in force.

THE Authority of the Custos or Dean consists in being President over the rest of the College; to go­vern, direct and order them their Goods and Estates. He has all manner of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over them, with a Reservation of Power of Appeal to the Chancellor of England, who is Visitor of that College.

WHEN any Persons lead Lives inordinate, he with the Chapter (in Cases where no particular Penalty is appointed) may reprehend or correct at Discretion; and in Matters of Discord, shall within Eight Days re­concile the contending Parties, or do Justice. After thrice Admonition, may expel from the College all [Page 90] Sowers of Discord, Backbiters and Whisperers, that are below the Degree of a Canon. And that there be no defect of Government, when the Dean has Occasion to be absent above Eight Days, he shall appoint One of the Canon Residents for his Deputy, in whose absence he has the Title of Lieutenant, and on all Occasions to exercise his Office; for the Statutes allow him Sixty Days in a Year for Non-residence; which space the Royal Visitation, 1552. enlarg'd to One Hundred and Ten Days; and the Lord Chancellor Hyde granted him Liberty of Six Weeks absence. But in the Vacancy of the Custos, the Chapter has all his Power conferr'd on them; which Chapter ought, within Two Days after the Vacancy made known, elect one of the Resident Canons, under the Title of President, to govern the College until they be provided of another Custos.

§. 5. The Alms Knights we shall treat of in a three­fold Estate: 1. Under the Foundation; 2. When dis­jointed thence by Act of Parliament; and, 3. As esta­blished anew by Queen Elizabeth.

1. THEN, King Edward III. out of the great Regard he had to military Honour, and those who had bravely behav'd themselves in his Wars, yet after chanced to fall in decay, made a Provision for their Relief and com­fortable Subsistence in old Age, by providing for them in this his Foundation, and making a Coalition in one joint Body with the Custos and Canons; these he call'd Milites Pauperes, and we Poor or Alms-Knights. The stated Number at first were Twenty Four, equal to the Custos and Canons at the first Erection. But shortly after, up­on his instituting the Order of the Garter, Two more were added (as there was to the first Canons) to make the compleat Number of the Knights-Companions of that Order, which were Twenty Six, as we find stated at the Ordination of the College by the Bishop of Win­chester, the Pope's Delegate.

THE Intention of the Founder was for those that were real Objects of Charity, as he describes them, viz. poor Knights, infirm in Body, indigent and decay'd, or as the Statutes of the Garter qualifies them, such as thro' adverse Turns of Fortune were reduced to that Extremity that they had not wherewithal to sustain themselves, to live so genteelly as was suitable for a Military Condition, which for greater Caution was rei­terated in the Statutes of King Hen. V. King Hen. VIII. and in the Orders of Queen Elizabeth; for it was ex­press'd, in case any Estate of 20 l. per Annum devolved on them, such Knights were to be discharged the Col­lege, and they were to proceed to a new Election.

AT the first each Knight-Companion of the Order presented his Alms-Knight, but ever after their Election was to be at the Disposal of the Sovereign. Their Habit [Page 96] was a Red Mantle, with the Escutcheon of St. George, without any Garter to surround it. Their Exhibition, after their first Election was 12 d. a-piece every Day they were at Service in the Chapel, or resident in the College, besides 40 s. per Annum for other Contin­gencies, it being the stated Allowance appointed to each of the Canons Residents.

ABOUT the Beginning of King Hen. VI's Reign, their quotidian Distributions and Annual 40 s. had been un­paid upon the Account of some Dissentions risen between them and the Dean and Canons; but upon Complaint of John Bishop of York, Lord Chancellor of England, and Visitor of the College, 10 Hen. VI. they were re­dressed, and their Arrears of both discharged, without any Deduction, and likewise obtained this Clause, That if the Treasurer of the College became negligent in future Payments, he should lose his own Quotidians, from the Time of his voluntary Omission, and the same to be divided among the Alms-Knights. Their Duty was to pray for the Sovereign and the Knights Companions, to be every Day present at High Mass, the Masses of the Virgin Mary, at Vespers and Compline, and in default to be mulcted their 12 d. toties quoties, which was to be converted to the Use of the other Alms-Knights, then residing in the Castle of Windsor; notwithstanding which Decree, the Dean did afterwards break in upon them, and disposed of these Forfeitures at his Pleasure, till 2 Rich. II. Adam, Bishop of St. David's, then Chancellor of England, and Visitor of the College, re­dress'd it, and another Complaint of like Nature being made of the Deans disposing of Donations and other Liberalities of the Knights Companions in wrong of the Alms-Knights, this Chancellor decreed an equal Di­stribution between the Alms-Knights and Canons, till the King and Council should otherwise determine.

These and other Differences between the Dean and Canons and Alms Knights, grew up to that height, that they became irreconcileable, insomuch as in the Act of Parliament, 22 Edw. IV. for incorporating of the Cu­stos and Canons, by the Name of Dean and Canons, the Alms-Knights were not only omitted; but this Clause inserted, That the Dean and Canons, and their Successors, [Page 97] should for ever more be utterly quit and discharged from all manner of Exhibition or Charge of or for any of the said Knights. And this under the Cover, That the King has greatly augmented the Number of the Ministers of the Chapel, that the Revenue was insufficient to main­tain both them and the Alms-Knights; but in the Dean and Canons Answer to the Knights Petition to repeal this Act, the Cause is alledged, For that some of these Knights used their utmost Endeavours before this Act, to incorporate themselves, and to be exempt from the Obedience and Rule of the Dean and Canons.

AFTER this Act, which struck off their Quotidian Portions and Fees assigned by King Edward's Foundati­on, how the Alms Knights subsisted we find not; but so soon as King Hen. VII. came to the Crown, they pe­titioned the King and Parliament for Repeal of the Act, 22 Edw. IV. and alledged it was obtained without their Knowledge, or being called thereunto, which Plea a­vailed not at all; but on the contrary, the Dean and Canons, some Years after, got an Exemplification there­of under the great Seal, dated Feb. 4. 18 Hen. VII.

AND it is very evident from King Hen. VIII's Letter to the College, that what they did in this Nature after this Act commenced, was merely upon Courtesie; for he returns them Thanks for a Pension of Twenty Marks conferred upon Peter Narbone, whom he had recom­mended to an Alms-Knights Place, and Promises to burthen them no more with Requests of this sort, but that he would settle Lands for their Maintenance. So great was their Caution, Narbone was by Covenants in­dented between him and the Dean and Canons, to re­linquish his Pension upon that King's settling Lands on the College, for the Provision of such Knights. In the Interval between the Disunion of the College and Alms-Knights, to their Establishment by Queen Elizabeth, their Habit and Badge continued the same, and was so confirmed by Hen. VIII's Statutes. It may be collected by his last Will, there was an Intention to draw the [...] about the Escutcheon of St. George, which Pro­jection came to nothing, and expired. In this Interval it is observ'd that several Persons of considerable Rank and Distinction became Alms [...]Knights; some of which [Page 98] were rendred great Objects of Charity; among which Number was Sir Robert Champlayne, a valiant Knight, an Honour to our Nation, for his renowned and martial Serv [...]ces abroad. He was of King Henry VI's Party in the Civil Wars against King Edw. IV. Immediately after whose coming to the Crown he left England, and travel­led into Hungary, (with an Equipage of Three Servants and Four Horses) where in the Assistance of Mathou [...] Corvinius King of Hungary against the Turks, he beha­ved himself very gallantly; but prosperous Fortune not always attending him with Success, he receiv'd many Wounds; and at length was taken Prisoner, lost all, and forced to pay 1500 Ducats for his Ransom; for the Attestation of which he had the Great Seals of the King of Hungary, the Archbishop of Crete, Legate de Latere in Hungary, the Emperor of Germany, the King of Sicily, the Count Palatine of the Rhin [...], and the Duke of Bur­gundy; and lastly, a Declaration thereof under the Privy Seal of King Edw. IV. And being reduced to so low an Ebb of Fortun [...], he was, thro' Hen. VII's Favour, ad­mitted an Alms-Knight.

But some obtained Admittance, probably out of De­votion, rather than Poverty, as Thomas Hulme, Claren­ [...]ux King of Arms, Temp. Edw. IV. Lodowick Carly, the King's Physician, and John Mewtes, Secretary of the French Ton [...]ue, both Temp. Hen. VII. and Bartholomew Westhy made second Baron of the Exchequer, 1 Hen. VIII.

IT is evident King Hen. VIII. designed a R [...]-esta­blishment of half the ancient Number of Alms-Knights, viz. Thirteen; for which purpose he appointed by his Will 600 l. per Annum, in Mannors, Lands, and Spiritual Promotions, settled upon the Dean and Canons, and their Successors for ever, upon the Proviso's that they should find Two Priests to say Mass at his Tomb, to commemorate yearly Four Obits for him, and at every Obit distribute 12 l. in Alms, likewise to pay 12 d. a Week to those Thirteen Alms-Knights, who were to have once a Year a long Gown of White Cloth, and a Mantle of Red, b [...]sides Five Marks annually, to such one among them as should be constituted their Go­vernor, and so much for a Sermon every Sunday throughout [Page 99] the Year. In Performance of which Will, King Edw. VI. in the first Year of his Reign, did confer se­veral Lands upon the College; but 600 l. per Annum of these Rents were by the Dean and Canons paid back, to be employed on erecting of Houses for the Alms-Knights, intended to be settled by King Hen. VIII. This Work began not till the 3d and 4th of Philip and Mary, and was finished the 5th and 6th of their Reign, the Charge amounting to 2747 l. 7 s. 6 d. These Houses are situate on the South side of the Lower Ward of the Castle, and contain Thirteen Rooms, besides an Hall, a Kitchin, and a Pastry; the Stone was brought from Reading, the Timber from the Forest, and the Lead, and Apparels for the Chimnies, from Suffolk Place in Southwark. At a Chapter of the Garter, held the 1st of June, the 4th and 5th of Philip and Mary, the Houses being then near finished, a Debate arose about placing some Alms-Knights therein, if possible, by M [...]chaelmas following, whereupon the Marquiss of Winton, Lord-Treasurer, had Orders to assign Lands for their Mainte­nance; and towards the compleating of this the Queen had nominated Nine of the Thirteen designed; but fal­ling sick in August, a stop was put to the Affair, till Queen Elizabeth coming to the Crown confirmed her Sister's Grants to the Nine nominated Knights, and made up the Number full Thirteen, ordained by King Henry VIII. under which Establishment they still remain; for after­wards, viz. Aug. 30. in the first Year of her Reign, minding the Continuance of King Edward's Foundation, the Intent of her Progenitors, and Advancement of the Order of the Garter, and King Henry VIII's Will, for the Support of Thirteen poor Men decayed in Wars, to be called Thirteen Knights of Windsor; and having erect­ed certain Orders for their better Regulation, and de­clar'd how and in what manner the 600 l. given by her Father should be employ'd for the Maintenance of these Knights and their Successors, she lastly decl [...]red, That the Dean and Canons should for ever cause these Rules and Orders to be observed.

Impr. That there be Thirteen Poor Knights, all Gen­tlemen, one whereof to be Governour, that have spent their Time in the Wars, or other Service of the Realm, [Page 100] having little or nothing to live upon, to be elected by the Sovereign and Successors.

2. It. The Governour and Knights must be unmar­ried, yet that the Crown may dispence withal; and upon their marrying are to lose their Place.

3. It. None deformed, and convicted of Heresie, Felony, or any notable Crime, is to be admitted of the Thirteen, and after admittance, so convicted, to be expelled.

4. It. Each Knight to have yearly, for their Liveries, a Red Gown of Four Yards, and a Mantle of Blue or Purple of Five Yards, at 6 s. and 8 d. per Yard.

5. It. An Escutcheon of St. George embroidered with­out the Garter, to be upon the Left Shoulder of the Mantle.

6. It. The Charges of the Cloth, Lining, Making, and Embroidering, to be paid by the Dean and Chapter, out of the Revenue of the Foundation.

7. It. That the Knights attend, Morning and After­noon, Divine Service, within the College, in their or­dinary Apparel, without a reasonable Let to be allowed by the Governour.

8. It. That they keep their Lodgings appointed, and Table in a common Hall appointed, and to have their Provisions by a c mmon Purse, except for a reasonable Cause any be licensed to the contrary by the Dean, and that License not to endure above Twenty Days in a Year, excepting only for Sickness.

9. It. They are not to haunt the Town, nor Publick Houses, nor call any Woman into their Lodgings, with­out reasonable Cause and License of the Dean.

10. It. Twelve of them to be obedient to him ap­pointed to be Governour, and all Thirteen to the D [...]an and Chapter, in the Observation of these Statutes.

11. It. The Thirteen Knights to have Places within the Church, where the Dean and Canons shall think best to hear the Divine Service together.

12. It. To be present at the quarterly Service, for the Memory of the Patrons and Founder of the College, and especially of King Hen. VIII. and Queen Elizabeth, and have each of them, at that Time, 20 d. and the Governour 2 s. The said Service to be the Sundays next [Page 101] before the Quarter-days, the Annunciation, St. John Baptist, Michaelmas, and Christmas.

13. It. Any of the Twelve Knights disobeying the Governour, in any of these Statutes, to incur the For­feiture the Dean and Chapter shall put on him, the Go­vernour to report the Offence, which if more heinous, the Dean and Chapter are to give a Warning, and regi­ster the same, and after a second Warning Expulsion is to follow; the like Punishment to the Governour, diso­beying the Dean and Chapter in the Observation of these Statutes.

14. It. The Penalties of the Punished to be imployed by the Dean and Chapter at their Discretion, upon any of the Ministers or Choristers of the Church.

15. It. Upon the King or Queen's coming to or go­ing from Windsor, the Thirteen Knights are to stand before their Doors in their Apparel, and do Obedi­ence.

16. It. At the keeping of the Feast of St. George, they are to stand likewise in their Apparel before their Doors, at the coming and going out of the Lieutenant, and of other the Knights-Companions.

17. It. At every Feast of St. George thèy shall sit toge­ther in their Apparel at one Table, and have Allow­ance of Meat and Drink at the Royal Charges.

18. It. They are daily in their Prayers to pray for the Sovereign and the Knights-Companions.

19. It. They are always to lie in their Lodging, and upon lying out of them and the College, without Li­cense from the Dean, to forfeit 12 d.

20. It. If Lands or Revenues of 20 l. per Annum fall to any of the poor Knights, he is to be removed, and another put into his Place.

21. It. They are every Day (excepting Cause of Sick­ness) to be present at Divine Service in the College, as afor [...]said, and receive a daily Distribution of 12 d. per Day, to be paid them monthly, if it may be, or at least in such sort as the other Ministers of the Chapel be paid; and he that shall absent himself one Day, with­out leave from the Dean, shall lose his Distribution of 12 d.

[Page 102] 22. It. The Governour is to keep a Book, and register, the Absenters, and other Defaulters of the Statutes, whereof he shall deliver one to the Dean, and another to the Steward, or him that payeth the poor Knights, who by Order of the Dean is to make proper Defalca­tions at the Time of paying them.

23. It. The Dean once a Year is to appoint a Day and Hour, at which the poor Knights are to be warned to be present, to hear these Statutes read, and any Knight absenting after that Warning, and without License, is to forfeit 6 s. 8 d.

24. It. Any elected poor Knight, before he take any Commodity of his Room, shall take a corporal Oath be­fore the Dean, to be faithful and true to the Crown, and that for the time of their tarrying there to truly observe the Statutes and Ordinances upon the Penalties contain [...]d in the said Statutes.

THE 25th Article is a Dispensation for those poor Knights chosen before these Statutes, who were not cer­tainly known Gentlemen, yet Men well reported for Honesty, and meet to be relieved; but with an Intent that none hereafter be admitted, unless a Gentleman born, agreeable to the first Order.

The annual Allowance of each, upon this new Esta­blishment, is 18 l. 5 s. to be paid by the Dean of Wind­sor, (but their Governour has 3 l. 6 s. and 8 d. more) besides their Gown and Mantle men [...]ioned in their Sta­tutes. King James I. doubled this Pension, and made it payable out of the Exchequer quarterly.

TO these Thirteen Alms-Knights, temp. Car. I. Five more were added, Two of the Foundation of Sir Peter la Maire, Knight, and Three of Sir Francis Crane, Knight, Chancellor of the Garter; for Sir Peter, by his last Will, dated Jan. 8. 1631. bequeath'd 1500 l. to charitable Uses, to be dispos'd as Sir Francis (who had marry'd his Sister) should think [...]it, within Four Years after his Death; whereupon Sir Francis, determining to er [...]ct certain Houses in Windsor-Castle, for the dwelling of Five Alms-Knights, design'd the said 1500 l. towards that Use, and what was deficient made up at his own Cost, charging his Brother Executor, Sir Richard Crane, by his Will, dated Aug. 27. 1635. to see the Pile which [Page 103] he had began, finish'd. Sir Francis also bequeath'd 200 l. per Annum to be settled in Lands, by his E [...]ecu ors, for the perpetual Maintenance of Five Alms-Knights, after the rate of 40 l. per Ann [...]m to every one of them; but his Executor growing slack in the Performance, the Work being rather expos'd to Ruin, than forwarded by him; upon Complaints made to the Sovereign and Knights-Companions in Chapter, Orders were islu'd out to quicken him, and a peremptory Letter, dated Mar. 7. 1639. to go on with the Work faithfully; which Commands he evading, and bad Times coming on, the Building was totally negiected. Sir Rich [...]rd Crane afterwards dying, by his Will, dated Sept. 20. 1645. he appointed that his Mannor of Carbrooke in Norfolk, should stand bound for ever for Payment of the said 200 l. per Annum; whereupon, by Inquisition taken at Wi [...]dsor, Mar. 4. 1652. (by Virtue of a Commission upon the Statute Anno 43 Eliz. for charitable Uses) the Mannors of Woodrising and Wesfield, &c. in Norfolk, were found liable to satisfie for building and finishing the said Five Houses, and payment of the 200 l. yearly; and further, that the Arrears thereof, from Sir Fran [...]s Crane's Death, came at that time to 3200 l. some Contest ensu'd in Chancery; nevertheless the 200 l. per Annum was, Ju [...]y 19. 1655. decreed to be paid out of all the Lands which were Sir Richard's, and the building of the Houses out of his personal Estate. At Two Years Ex­piration arose that fair Pile of Building, between the Chancellor's and Garter's Towers, against the West Wall, in the lower Ward of the Castle, which was be­gun again and finish'd the next Year; the Expences amounting to 1700 l. But for a final End of this Suit, it was decreed, Jan. 27. 1659. the Mannor of Carbrooke should stand charg'd with 200 l. per Annum, payable half-yearly at Michaelmas and Lady-day, or within Thir­ty Days after, for the Maintenance of Five Alms Knights, together with 30 l. yearly for Repairs, payable also then; which annual Sum of 230 l. Anno 12 Ca [...]. II. in a Chapter held at Whitehall, Jan. 14. the King decreed the Chancellor of the Order, for the Time being, should receive and dispose thereof thus: 200 l. per Annum among the Five new Alms-Knights quarterly, at [Page 104] the Four usual Feasts of the Year, and to employ the residue upon Repair of the new Buildings erected for their Lodgings; which Powers were inserted in the Patent for his Office, bearing date the 20th of the same Month. And it was moreover decreed, that these Five Knights should be subject to the same Rules and Go­vernment of the Thirteen of Queen Elizabeth's Foun­dation, and made equal Partakers of the same Privi­leges, and wear the like Habits.

KING Charles I. taking into Consideration the Dona­tion of Sir Francis Crane, which made the Alms-Knights Eighteen, (tho' they were not yet settled) intended to make up Twenty Six, as they were at the Institution of the Order; to compleat which Design, a Chapter was held at Whitehall, Apr. 18. 1637. for the Knights-Com­panions to consider the best Way how the same might be effected, and report their Opinions; but nothing was done thereupon, and this Affair waits a more pro­pitious Opportunity.

§ 6. THE other Ministers of the College and Chapel of St. George, call'd Ministers in the Foundation Patent, are the superior Officers, viz. The Chantor, Steward and Treasurer.

THE Chantor is elected from among the Canons, whose Office is chiefly to govern those that sing in the Choir, and such as are employ'd about Divine Service. Before the Reformation he appointed who should be­gin the Antiphones, celebrate Masses, and read the Les­sons, Epistles and Gospels. To his Care was commit­ted all the Books, Crosses, Chalices, Vestments, and all the Sacred Ornaments of the Chapel. He receives the Offerings there made, and Accounts for them; for all which Services an annual Pension of 5 l. is allow'd him.

THE Steward and Treasurer are annually chosen on the Morrow after Michaelmas-day from out of the Canons Resident. To the Steward's Office appertains the Go­vernment of all the Revenues of the College, the Rents and Profits whereof he is to pay the Treasurer. In his Custody are repos'd all the O [...]naments, Jewels, and o­ther Treasure of the Chapel, not committed to the [Page 105] Chantor, under the Obligation of rendring an Account; and his yearly Pension is 5 l.

THE Treasurer is to distribute to the Custos, Ca­nons, Vicars, &c. their Pensions and Allowances, which if he fail Eight Days after their prefix'd Times of Payment, he is debar'd of his own quotidians, as Ca­non Resident, until such Arrears be discharg'd; as like­wise the Steward, if he be found delinquent. His Pension is also 5 l. per Annum. There is one Treasurer to receive the Rents of the old Lands, and another cho­sen from the Canons to receive the new, who have been allow'd the like annual Pensions. The former is term'd Seneschallus veteris, the latter Seneschallus novae Do­tationis.

MOREOVER, there is a Steward of the Courts, and Clerk of the Lands, which is an Officer under both the before-mention'd Stewards. He keeps the Courts by himself or Deputy, and is a Barrester at Law, and the standing Council for the College. His yearly Pen­sion is 20 Nobles. But the Council in Spiritualibus is usually a Graduate in the Law.

THE Chapter-Clerk enters and registers all Acts of the Chapter-House; he draws and engrosses all Inden­tures, Patents, Grants, Leases, &c. which pass the com­mon Seal of the Dean and Canons. His Pension is 3 l. 6 s. 8 d. per Annum. The Under Stewardship and Chapter Clerkship heretofore were enjoy'd by one Person, but of late they are divided, and now he must be a Bar­rester at Law.

OF the Virgers Institution the Statutes of the College make mention, that in Procession and other Solemni­ties, they were to go before the Dean and Canons, bearing their Rods, for which Service they were to have annually a Robe, and 6 d. per Diem. And besides these, there are Two Sextons, Two Bell-ringers, a Clock­keeper, and a Porter who attends the shutting and open­ing of the Gates.

§ 7. FOR the Endowment of the College we shall only treat upon those Lands given to the Maintenance of this Foundation by the Founder himself, or by his [Page 106] [...]uccessors, or by Sovereigns of The Order of the Garter, [...]uch as have been Knights-Companions.

KING Edw. III. by his Letters Patent of the Founda­tion [22 Edw. III.] aforesaid, gave them [the Custos, Canons, Alms-Knights and Ministers] the Advowsons of the Churches of Wyardesbury [Rasbury] in Lincoln, South-Tanton in Exeter, and Uttoxater in Coventry and Litchfield Diocess, in Frank Almoigne, free from all Se­cular Exactions; which License, to appropriate the same to the College, notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain, he appointed as much out of his Treasure for their Support, as amounted to an immoveable Estate of 1000 l. per Annum; and lest there might be any De­fect in the Knights Title to Uttoxater and South-Tanton, Henry Earl of Lancaster, 23 Edw. III. and Thomas Beau­champ Earl of Warwick, that Year had special Licenses granted them in Right of Patronage to the said Two Ad­vowsons, and they to receive the same. Another such License, 28th of January, 24 Edw. III. was given to William de Bohun Earl of Northampton, for assigning to the Custos and Chaplains the Advowson of Dodyngton in Com. Oxon, which he held of the King in Capite. The 28th of January following, this Royal Founder conferr'd on them (by the Name of Custos and Chaplains of his free Chapel at Windsor) one Messuage, Seventeen Acres of Land, one of Pasture, and 3 s. Rent, in Wyrardesbury in Com. Bucks, which had been convey'd to him by Ri­chard de Gloucester, Heir to Isabel de Ditton; and the 22d of May ensuing granted unto them the Advowson of Dachet near Windsor.

Anno 25 Edw. III. the King gave them the Advow­sons of the Churches of Eure in Com. Bucks, of Riston in Com. Norsolk, and of Whaddon and Caxton in Com. Can­tab. and in May that Year the Advowson of Simondes­bourne (surrender'd temp. Edw. IV. to Richard Duke of Gloucester) and of St. Stephens of Saltash. The first of these Queen Philippa purchas'd of Sir John Darcy, and the other of Edward the Black Prince; and gave them both, first to the King, that by his Grant afterwards to the College its Title might be more corroborated. The same Year, October 26. the King bestow'd on them 100 Marks per Annum, out of the Farm of the Town [Page 107] of Northampton, to be paid by the Bailiff of the Town at Easter and Michaelmas by equal Allotments: And it was at the Founder's Instance (therefore worthy to be inserted) that the Town of Yarmouth, 26 Edw. III. un­der their Common Seal, granted them a Last of Red Herrings yearly, well dry'd and cleans'd, to take the Corporation into their Prayers; tho' some say it was a Penance enjoyn'd them for murdering a Magistrate.

IN the 26 Edw. III. the Founder granted them and their Successors the Mannor of Eure near Weybrigg, in Com. Bucks, the Mannor of Craswell in Bray in Com. Berks, and a Wear call'd Braybrook, situated in the Thames, with all the Lands in that Parish convey'd unto him by Sir John Philibert, together with the Knights Fees, Advowsons, &c. belonging to those Mannors. He gave to the Custos and College soon after the Seisin thereof, as also of a Wood call'd Temple-Wood in Stoke-Pogeys, convey'd to the King by John de Molyns: But deeming all the Lands too small for the End he in­tended, 28 Edw. III. the King granted the Custos and College, by Letters Patent, a Pension of 100 l. per An­num out of the Exchequer; and upon the vacating the same, 34 Edw. III. he gave them yearly Lands of 101 l. 11 s. 11 d. out of the Possessions of religious Aliens, which fell into his Hands by Occasion of the French Wars: But lest these Possessions should be again re­stor'd upon a Treaty of Peace, they were to receive the annual Sum of 101 l. 11 s. 11 d. out of the Ex­chequer, till they were provided of Lands of the like Value. Upon several Restrictions, he granted them 51 l. 9 s. 9 d. yearly to be receiv'd out of 126 l. which the Prior of Takkele paid him for the Farm of that Pri­ory, it being then in the King's Hand by reason of the War with France. And by reason the Revenues did not amount to 1000 l. per Annum, as he design'd at the Foundation, in the 35th Year of his Reign, he granted them so much Money yearly out of the Ex­chequer, as would make up the Deficiency, till Lands or Rents of that Value should be settled on them. Lastly, 39 Edw. III. the Founder bestow'd on them a Piece of Ground in New Windsor, (whereon had stood an House of John of London) in lieu of the great Garden [Page 108] South of the Castle, formerly given them by him; and also a Garden opposite thereunto on the other side of the Way. Besides these Largesses of the Founders, there were others made by pious and devout Persons, said to be incorporated into the first Foundation, and made up that Revenue which William Bishop of Win­chester adjudg'd sufficient for the Support of the Col­lege, which we shall silently pass over with the bare mention only.

THE Mannor of Dodyngton-Castle; two Pastures call'd Frith and Ashcroft; the Chapel of Langeley; the Parso­nages of Estriton, Langeley-Maries, Wantynge, Shaldeborne, Wedonbeek, Glynde and Ryslepe; the Pensions of the Vi­carages of Wantynge, Clyffe, Tylthey and Gottesford; and the Portions of Bassyngborne and Prestwyke, in Haseley magna, Chalgrave, Adewelle, Aston, Rowhand, Sevyndon, Kyngeston and Henton, in Stoke-Basset, and Clopecote in Gatehampton; Whytechyrche, Maplederham, Retherfeld, E­sthenreth Stretham; of Thornecroft in Letherhed; of To­tynbeek in Wodesdon; Evington, Woodmershthorne; of Fordham, Ethrope, Newenham, and in Tollesworth.

IN succeeding Times other considerable Donations were made by the Sovereigns and Knights Compa­nions (omitting others.) Some of which, as they fall in our way, we shall speak of.

13 Rich. II. that King gave them a Croft in North­molton, with the Advowson of that Church.

9 Hen. V. John, Duke of Bedford, third Son to King Hen. IV. conferr'd on them the Priory of Okeborne in Wilts (a Cell to Bec in Normandy) with all its Appurte­nances: Which Donation was confirm'd by King Hen. V. and afterwards by King Edw. IV.

7 Edw. IV. that King, who had a singular Respect for the College, conferr'd on them the Mannor of Atherston in Com. Warwick, the Mannors and Advowsons of Chesingbury in Wilts, and of Quarle in Hantshre; the Church and Priorate of Uphaven, and the Deanry or Chapel of St. Burien in Cornwall, with an Addition of an annual Pension, which the Abbot of Sautrie discharg'd for the Church of Fulburne, to the Abbey de bona Requ [...], and another yearly Income of 20 l. paid by the Abbot of Rousford for the Mediety of the Church of Rotheram.

[Page 109] 13 Edw. IV. he consign'd to them the Mannor or Priorate of Munclane, in Com. Hereford.

14 Edw. IV. he gave unto them the Custody, Patro­nage, and free Disposition of the Hospital or Free Cha­pel of St. Anthony, London, (a Preceptory to St. Anthony of Vienna, with all the Liberties, Privileges, Lands, &c.) upon the first Vacancy. The same Year he endow'd them with the Priorate of Brimsfield in Com. Gloucest. the Mannor of Blakenham in Suffolk; the Priorate of St. Elene in the Isle of Wight; the Priorate or Mannor of Charle­ton in Wilts; and all the Lands, &c. in Northmundon, Compton and Wel [...]igh in Sussex and Southampton; the Man­nor of Ponyngton and W [...]don in Dorset, together with an annual Pension of 12 Marks, payable by the Priory of Monte acuto, with all the Lands, Tenements, Rents, Advowsons, &c. annex'd to the said Priorates and Mannors. The same Year he bestow'd on them the Mannor of Membury in Com. Dorset; the Lordships of Preston and Monkesilver in Com. Somerset; the Advowsons of Puryton and Wollavington in that County, together with the Knights Fees, Advowsons, Profits, Righrs, &c.

18 Edw. IV. his Feoffees, the Queen, the Arch-Bi­shop of York, and others seised to the Use of the King, demis'd to them the Mannor of Wykecombe, call'd Bas­setsbury, the Fee-Farm of the Town of Great Wykecombe, the Mannor of Crendon in Com. Bucks, and the Mannors of Haseley and Pyrton in Com. Oxon: And that Year the King gave unto them the Advowson of the Church of Cheshunt, being of his own Patronage, provided the Vica­rige was sufficiently endow'd, and a compleat Sum of Money annually distributed among the poor Parishi­oners, according to the Diocesan's Ordinance. To these he united the Custody or Deanry of the Free Chapel of Wolverhampton in Com. Staff. to the Custos or Dean of this College, and his Successors for ever; which Church, cum membris, is exempt from not only the Ju­risdiction, &c. of the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, but by a Papal Bull from all Legates and Delegates; nor is it subject to any terrene Power, but the King of England alone, and under it to the perpetual Visitation of the Keepers of the Great Seal, pro tempore.

[Page 110] 20 Edw. IV. he resign'd to them the Advowson o [...] Patronage of the Prebend of Ewern in Com. Dorset, wit [...] all its Rights and Privileges: And lastly, in the 21 [...] Year of his Reign, he granted them Two Parts of th [...] Mannors of Old Swynford and Gannow, in Com. [...]ygorn [...] and the Reversion of the Third Part of them, with the Advowson of the Church of Old Swynford; nor was he thus munificent alone, but excited and spurr'd on others to the like Example, licensing, in the first Year of his Reign, all his Subjects to confer what they pleas'd to the Dean and Canons, within the Value of 300 Marks per Annum, as well such as held of him i [...] Capite or otherwise, notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain; and afterwards increas'd this License to Lands of 500 l. per Annum Value, (which King Hen. VIII [...] extended to 1000 l.) Hereupon, Anno 20 Edw. IV. John, Duke of Suffolk, and Elizabeth his Wife, the King's Sister, were permitted to assign to them the Mannor or Lordship of Grovebury, otherwise call'd Leighton Bus [...]rd, in Com. Bedford, the Church of Tintagell in Cornwall, as also Nineteen Messuages, Seven Tofts, One Hundred and Forty Acres of Land, Fourteen of Meadow, One Hundred and Forty of Pasture, One Hundred of Wood, and Four Shillings Rent in Newford and Blanford, in Com [...] Dorset, and Seventy Messuages, Twelve Tofts, Five Hun­dred Acres of Land, One Hundred of Meadow, Two Hundred of Pasture, Forty of Wood, and Twenty Shillings Rent, in Stokeley, Northall, Ed [...]lesburgh and Rodenach, in Com. Bucks, and Twenty Messuages, Eight Tofts, Three Hundred Acres of Land, Sixty of Mea­dow, Two Hundred of Pasture, Forty of Wood, and Twenty Shillings Rent, in Compton St. John, in Com [...] Sussex, and Ten Messuages, Nine Tofts, Two Hundred Acres of Land, Twenty of Meadow, One Hundred o [...] Pasture, Ten of Wood, and Twenty Shillings Rent, in Portsmouth and Burghegge, in Hampshir [...], and One Mes­suage, Three Tofts, Sixty Acres of Land, Six of Mea­dow, Forty of Pasture, and Twenty Shillings Rent, in Stodeham, in Com. Hertford, held of the King in Cap [...] without any Restriction whatsoever, for which the Duke and Dutchess were to be had in the perpetu [...]l Orisons of the Dean and Cano [...]s. The same Ye [...]r [Page 111] Sir Walter Devoreux de Feners, Knight, together with Sir John Devoreux and others his Feofees, made over to them the Mannor, Church, and perpetual Advowsons of Sutton Courtney in Com. Berks.

All the before-mentioned Endowments are called the Lands of the old Dotation, to distinguish them from those confirmed on the College by King Edw. VI. which are term'd the Lands of the new Dotation; of which hereafter. But several of them given by King Edw. IV. the College never possessed, viz. Atherston, Quarle, Up­haven, St. Burien, Fulburne Pension, Brimfi [...]ld, St. Elen, Charleton, Blakenham, Ponyngton, Wedon, Old Suynford, and Gannow, and of some others they were seized but a short time, viz. Chesingbury, the Lands in Newford, Blandford, and Portsmouth. Besides these, the College was dispossess'd of Gottesford, temp. Hen. VI. of Cheshunt, temp. Hen. VII. temp. Hen. VIII. or a little before of Wodemershthorn, Tylthey, Retherfeld, Levyngdon, Stoke-Basset, Stretham, Totingbeek, Fordham, Elthorp, New­enham, and Tollesworth; afterwards they surrendred in­to the Hands of King H [...]n. VIII. Eure, Clyff, Ashton, Rowhand, Kingston, Esthenreth, Northmundon, Compton, Weleg, Compton St. John, and Shobingdon Portion; and up­on the Reformation the College lost at least 1000 Marks per Annum, in the Profit made by St. Anthony's Piggs, which the Appropriation of the Hospital of St. Anthony's London brought to it, and no less then 500 per Annum, the Offerings of Sir John Shorne's Shrine at Northmarston in Com. Bucks, a Man of great Piety and Veneration with the People, and sometime Rector there. The Advowson of this Church was appropriated to the Dean and Canons, by the Convent of Dunstaple, temp. Edw. IV. in exchange for Wedenbeck in Com. Bedford.

THE Dean and Canons having convey'd unto K. H. VIII. the Mannor and Rectory of Ivor in Bucks, the Mannor of Dammery-Court in Dorset, and other Lands, Rents, Portions, and Pensions in the Counties of Somerset, Hants, Middlesex, Oxford, and Sussex, to the yearly Value of 160 l. 2 s. 4. d. for which they had no Recompence in his Life, that King, by his last Will, ordered them [...]n Equivalent upon the Commutation and Agreement of an Exchange; which Will, King Edw. VI. his Son [Page 112] and Successor performed, as well for the Assurance of Lands, to the yearly Value of 600 l. to the Dean and Canons for ever, to the Uses in the Will, as for the As­surance of other Lands, of the annual Value of the said 160 l. 2 s. and 4 d. wherefore by Letters Patent, dated the 7th of October, in the First Year of his Reign, he granted them the Rectories of Bradnynche, Northam, Iplepen, Ilsington, and Southmolton in Com. Devon, the Tithe of Corn of Otery, in that County, as also Blossoms-Inn in St. Laur [...]nce-lane, London, the Tithes of Grain, &c. of the Rectory of Ambrosbury, in Wilts, and all the Tithes of Bedwyn, Stoke, Wilton, Harden, Harden-Tunrige, Knoll, Pathall, Chisbury, East-Grafton, West-Grafton, Grafton-Martin, and Wexcomb, the Prebend of Alcannyngs and Urchefounte, the Rectories of Urchefounte, Stapleford, Tytcombe, and Froxfeild, all in Com. Wilts, and all the annual Pension of 8 l. issuing out of the Manner of Icombe in Com. Gloucester, the Rectory and Vicarige of Ikelington in Cambridgeshire, the Rectory of East-Beckworth in Surrey, the Reversion of the Portion of Tithes of Trequite in Cornwall, and the Rent of 13 s. 4 d. reserved upon the same, the Rectory and Church of Plympton, and the Chapels of Plymstoke, Wembury, Shagh, Sandford-Spone, Plympton, St. Maurice and Brixton, in Com. Devon, the Rectory of Isleworth and Farickenham in Com. Middle­sex, and Shiplake in Com. Oxon, the Reversion of the Rectory of Aberguille, and of the Chapels of Llanlawet [Llanbadock] and Llanpenysaunt, with the Rent of 30 reserved thereon, the Reversions of the Rectory of Talgarth, with the reserved Rent of 11 l. 6 s. 8 d. the Reversion of the Rectory of Mara in Com. Brecknock, and 6 l. Rent, and that of St. Germains in Cornwall, with 61 l. 13 s. and 4 d. Rent, to have and to hold, &c. for ever, except the Tithes of Woolpat and Fitzwaren in Wilts, the Vicarige-House of Ikelington, Marriage-Money, Dirge-Money, and Mass-Money, and the whole Profit of the Bedrolls of Ikelington; nevertheless to pay the Crown in the Court of Augmentation, for the Rectories of Aber­guille, Talgarth and Mara, the Chapels Llanbadock and Llanpenysaunt 4 l. 2 d. 8 d. in the Name of Tenths, and for all Rents, Services, &c. of the other Rectories, &c. 48 l. 7 s. 4 d. annually at Michaelmas. Moreover, within [Page 113] all these Premises, the King granted them Court Leets, or Views of Frankpledge, and to levy Fines, Amercia­ments, Free Warrens, Waifs, and Felons Goods, and all other Profits, &c. whatsoever, and the said Rectories, Tithes, Pensions, Rents, and all other Gifts and Grants in the Possession of the Dean and Chapter, were confirmed to them by Act of Parliament, 2 Jac. I.

THE ancient Rate of these New Lands in the King's Books was 661 l. 6 s. and 8 d. per Annum; but accord­ing to the improved Rents, as they were then turned over to the College, 812 l. 12. 9 d. out of which 160 l. 2 s. 4 d. was yearly allowed them in Requital of their Lands passed to King Hen. VIII. and 600 l. per An­num, for accomplishment of his Will; but the remain­ing Sum, viz. 52 l. 10 s. 5 d. was reserved in lieu of Tenths, to be paid into the Court of Augmentation; ne­vertheless, this last reserved Sum was not assented un­to by the Dean and Canons to be so paid, because the Charges issuing out of the Lands were larger than were expressed in the Rental. And we find that, shortly af­ter, the Rents of St. Germains, Northam, Ilsington, &c. part of the New Lands, were received and accounted for, according to the old Rate in the King's Books, to wit, 162 l. 13 s. 4 d. per Annum, in Recompence for the Lands conveyed to King Hen. VIII. and out of which they paid a yearly Surplusage of 2 l. 2 s. 1 d. This Sum, together with the Rents of the rest of the New Lands, being upon the said Improvement accounted to be 597 l. 17 s. 11 d. made in all 600 l. per Annum; and this was laid out by the Dean and Canons for some time towards erecting the Alms-Knights Apartments.

THUS stood the Lands accounted for till the Settle­ment made by Queen Elizabeth, who in the First Year of her Reign appointed the Dean and Canons to con­vert the Rents of these New Lands to such Uses and Intents as she had set down in a Book signed with her Sign manual, and annexed to an Indenture made be­tween her and the Dean and Canons; by which Inden­ture they were obliged to apply the Rents and Profits of these Lands, as was prescribed in the Book, and to ob­serve the Ordinances therein, and upon Default, to abide [Page 114] such Orders as the Crown, or any Knight-Com­panion, deputed by the Sovereign, shall set forth.

Which Remainder has been and is assigned for Payment of Tenths to the Crown, Vicars, Curates, Annual Sti­pends, Officers Fees, Reparation of the Premisses, and for the Relief of the Dean and Canons, in Main­tenance and Defence of the said Lands.

AND to the End the Queen might know how the Re­venue was disposed of, she gave charge that her Lieute­nant and the Knights-Companions should annually (at the Feast of the Order held at Windsor) state the Ac­compt, and see how the Income was expended, and that her Lieutenant should yearly be put in mind of it by one of the Officers of the Order. This Ordinance was renewed, 21 Jac. I. and the Chancellor of the Order was appointed to be the Remembrancer, and in Obedi­ence thereunto, the Account of these new Lands (which begins at Lady-Day, as that of the old Lands doth at Mi [...]haelmas) was afterwards exhibited in Chapter, and in particular that Account, 9 Car I. which was submit­ted to the Sovereign and Knights-Companion's Consi­deration, who referred the Inspection thereof to the Knights-Commissaries, who were to consult over the Affairs of the Order.

§. 8. THE Privileges of the Chapel and College are Ecclesiastical and Temporal: As to the first, Pope Cle­m [...]nt VI. exempted the Chapel, College, Canons, Priests, Clerks, Alms-Knights and Officers, from all ordinary Jurisdiction of Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons, and all Judges and Officers, and received them within the Protection of the Papal-See; and granted a farther Privilege, That the Custos should have Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over the Canons, Priests, &c. as also the Cure of their Soul [...], notwithstanding any Papal Constitution [Page 115] Provincial, or Synodical, yet allowing that the Custos should receive that Cure from the Diocesan of the Place. In Consideration of this Exemption, the Custos was to pay annually, on St. George's Day, a Mark in Sil­ver, to the Pope's Chamber. Two Years preceding, the Chapel was called the King's Free Chapel, which Title it still enjoys; for it owes S [...]bjection to none but the Sovereign of England, the Supream of the Church, as heretofore it stood divided between the King and See of Rome. The Privilege of Exemption included in the Confirmation of Liberties, made by the Founder in his Charter, dated Anno Regni sui 47. and all other E­moluments granted by him, are confirmed by Act of Parliament, 8 Hen. VI. As the College has its sole De­pendance on the Crown, it is visitable only by the Lord-Chancellor, whose Visitations and Power are re­served to him by the Statutes of the College, and him­self called in the King's Commission for Visitation, 2 Rich. II. Governor of the said Chapel, as well in Spi­rituals as Temporals, and, under the King, immediate Custos. And so jealous were the Dean and Canons, left the Power of the said Exemption should be infringed, that when Sixtus IV. had granted the Bishop of Salis­bury, and themselves, to make new and interpret the ancient Statutes, they soon obtained [...] Revocation of that Authority, left the said Bishop (in whose Diocess the College is situate) being so unpowered, might by Degrees bring them under his Jurisdicton, in prejudice to their Exemption. And, A. D. 1485. to prevent [...]uch design, the Archbishop of Canterbury, &c. were commission'd to see the Bull revoked, and Salisbury en­joyned not to intermeddle further in the College Affairs. Moreover other Bishops, and the Chancellor of England, were to r [...]new, alter, or new make such Statutes as might accrue to the Advantage of the College.

IF the Archbishop of Cant [...]rbury be present in the Chapel, he sits below the Dean, nor can he consecrate there, without his License. And this is very remark­able, that at the ratifying the Peace between King Charles I. and L [...]wis XIII. A. D. 1629. in the Chapel at W [...]sor, Dr Wren, then Dean of the College, gave the [Page 116] Oath to the French Ambassador, and not the Archbishop of Canterbury, tho' he was then present.

THE Dean and Chapter are to weigh well and debate at their yearly Chapters all things fit to be dispatched in reference to the College Affairs, and whatsoever Deter­mination they come to, not repugnant to their Statutes, all Persons are firmly obliged to observe.

THE Deans have no Institution from any Bishop, but his Institution, Investiture, and Installation into the Custos-ship, Canonship, and Prebendship, is conferred from such of the Canons Resident, to whom the King (who collates) doth recommend him. Other Marks of Exemption appear in the constant proving of Wills be­fore him, or in his Absence before his Lieutenant. In using the Power of Excommunication within their Ju­risdiction (the Precincts of the College) granting a Dis­pensation for eating Flesh in Lent, a farther Mark of their Privilege appears, that the Ordination for the Chantry Priests were confirmed by the Dean and Chap­ter, and not the Bishop of the Diocess, as were the Statutes of the new Commons. The Dean is exemp [...] from paying all Synodals, or Procurations, nor can any of the King's Chaplains preach in the Chapel of St. George, unless he be a Canon there, or have License from the King, or from the Dean and Canons. They send no Delegates to the Synod, and when the Point was debated, 1640. it was carried in the Negative, as being against their Liberties, and might intitle them to the Paym [...]nt of Subsidies; nor are they intitled to any Share in the Government of the Church, more than the Colleges in the Universities, where there are many no­minal Deans. In short, when by the Act of Uniformi [...]y, 14 Car. II. every Clergyman was bound to subscribe be­fore the Arch bishop or his Ordinary, the Canons sub­scribed before the Dean; and tho' some of them sub­scribed before the Bishop, yet was it with a Salvo, saving the Ri [...]hts and Privileges of this Free Chapel.

THEIR Temporal Immunities and Privileges are thes [...], as [...]r [...]nt [...]d th [...]m by Chart [...]r, 6 Mar. 27 Edw. III. and confirmed by several of his Successors.

T [...]E C [...]stos [...]nd Canons were fr [...]e from p [...]vin [...] Aid upon making the King's eldest Son a Knight, and marrying [Page 117] his eldest Daughter, and exempt of all Aids to the King's Contributions and Tallages.

WHENSOEVER the Clergy should give a Tenth, or o­ther Imposition, out of their Spiritualties, or the Com­mons give a Tenth, Fifteenth, or other, out of their Temporalties, Subsidy, or the King tax his own De­mean, or the Pope impose any Money to be raised up­on the Clergy, to give it the King, this College and their Possessions were to stand freed thereof.

THEY were discharged from any Contributions of arraying Soldiers, and from sending them to guard the Sea-Coasts, and from every Fine and Composition of the like Nature. Their Houses within the Castle of Windsor, as elsewhere, are quit from any Livery of the King's and Queen's Stewards, Marshals, Purveyors, Officers, and Servants, and from the like Officers of the Peers or Nobles, and the said Officers were not to inter­meddle there, without L [...]ave of the Custos and Canons.

NO Duke, &c. or Nobleman, nor any Stewards, Marshals, Escheators, Sheriffs, Coroners, Bailiffs, or Officers, nor other Person of what Condition soever, upon any Pretence, were not to lodge or rem [...]in in their Houses without their Consent.

THE Custos, Canons, and their Tenants, were not to pay any Toll, Paviage, Piccage, Barbicanage, Terrage, Pontage, Murage, Passage, Payage, Lestage, Stallage, Tal­lage, Carriage, Pesage, and from Scot and Geld, Hi­dage, Scutage, working about Castles, Parks, Bridges, Walls for the King's Houses; and from Suits to the County, or Hundred Courts, and Wapentakes, or Court Leets, Murder, and common Amerciaments, before ei­ther King, Justices of the Bench, or Itinerant, and from ever [...] like Custom had an Immunity.

WITHIN their Lands, Fees, and Precincts, the Chattels of all Felons and Fugitives were seized to their own Use. All Fines for Trespasses, and all other Con­tempts and Misdemeanors, F [...]nes pro [...] concord [...]nd [...], and for all other Causes, Amerciaments, Redemptions, Issues, and Forfeitures what [...]oever, Annum D [...]em Vastum [...] Streppum, and all Things which might belong to the [Page 118] King and his Heirs, and all Wrecks, Waifs, and Strays, were granted them.

NO Purveyance of Corn, Hay, Horses, Carts, Car­riages, Victuals, or any Goods, Chattels, or any thing whatsoever, should be carried off by any of the King's Officers, upon their or their Tenants Land.

THEY were to be free from paying any Pension, Cor­rody, or other Sustentation to be granted to the Crown.

THEY were to have free Warren in all their Demain Lands wheresoever, and that altho' they lay within the Bounds of the King's Forest.

THAT they should enjoy for their Conveniency a weekly Market on W [...]dnesday, at their Mannor of Ever in Bucks, and Two Fairs to last Eight Days, one on the Eve and Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, and Two Days after the other, upon the Eve and Feast of St. Pet [...]r ad Vincula, and Two Days following.

THAT they should, in all their Lands have Socage and Sackage, Infangthef, Utfangthef, and View of Frankpledge, with Thewe, Pillory, and Tumbrel for punishing Malefactors, and Power to erect Gallows up­on their own Soil for executing those apprehended in their Jurisdiction.

THEY were to be exempt of all Suits and Pleas of the Forest, and of all Charges or Fees which the Officers of the Forest might demand, and from the Expeditation of their Dogs and Suits of Court there; as likewise all from Gelds, Dane Gelds, Knights Fees, Payments for Murder and Robbery, Building or Repairing of Bridges, Castles, Parks, Pools, Walls, Sea Banks, Causeways, and Inclosures; and of all Assizes, Summonses, Sheriffs Aids, their Bailiffs, or Officers, bearing of Treasure, and all other Aids whatever; as also from the com­mon Assessmen [...]s and Amerciaments of the County, and Hundred, and all Actions relating to them; they were discharged from the Payment of Ward-penny, Aver­penny, Tithing-penny, and Hundred-penny, and quit from Grithbreck, Forestal, Homesoken, Blodwite, Wardwite, Hangwite, Fightwite, Leyrwite, Lastage, Pannage, Assurt, and Waste of the Forest; so that such Waste be not committed in the Forests, Parks, and [Page 119] Woods belonging to the Crown, and then reasonable Sa­tisfaction, without Imprisonment, should be accepted.

ALL Writs and Attachments were returnable to them, as well relating to the Pleas of the Crown as other, thro' all their Lands and Fees, and no Sheriff, Bai­liff, or Officer, should execute any such there, unless in Default of the Custos and Canons, and they to have and hold Leets, and Lawdays, and Cognizance of all Pleas betwixt their Tenants, as well of Trespasses and Contracts, as others. And lastly, They were to have and hold Wards, Reliefs, Escheats, Forfeitures, and o­ther Profits, Issues, and Emoluments whatsoever, within their own Fees, from all their Tenants, which might appertain to the Crown, as if the Tenants did hold of the Crown or others in Capite.

WE come now to treat of the most Noble and Il­lustrious Order of the Garter; which, if we consi­der either its Antiquity, or the Nobleness of the Personages, that have been enroll'd, it excels and outvies all other Institutions of Honour in the whole World. It owes its Original, as is confessed on all Hands, to Edward III. King of England and France; yet as to the Occasion, there are several Opinions which we shall rectifie. The vulgar and more general is, that the Garter of Joan, Countess of Salisbury, dropping casually off as she danced in a solemn Ball, King Edward stoop­ing took it up from the Ground, whereupon some of his Nobles smiling, as at an amorous Action, and he observing their sportive Humour, turned it off with a Reply in French, Honi soit qui mal y pense; but withal added, in disdain of their Laughter, That shortly th [...]y should see that Garter advanced to so high an Honour and Re­nown as to account themselves happy to wear it.

BUT upon Examination of this Tradition, let others judge what Credit it bears to establish its Belief; for Sir John Froissart, the only Writer of the Age that treats [Page 120] of this Institution, assigns no such Original, nor for 200 Years after is there any thing to the Purpose in our other Historians, till Polydore Virgil took occasion to say something of it; but had it been Fact, some French Historian or other, would not have neglected to register it at a convenient Time with a Scoff and Ridicule, since that Nation was so ready to deride King Henry V's Design of invading them with a Return of Tennis Balls.

IN the Original Statutes of this Order, there is not the least Conjecture to countenance the Conceit of such a Feminine Institution, no not so much as laying an Obligation on the Knights-Companions to defend the Quarrels of Ladies (as some Orders then in being en­joyned;) nor doth the Author of that Tract entitled In­stitutio clarissimi Ordinis Militaris a praenobili subligaculo nun­cupati, prefaced to the Black Book of the Garter, let fall the manifest Passage to ground it on.

As to what Polydore says, he is not so confident to ascertain the Person whose Garter it was; but cautiously declining that, says, it was either the Queen's, or the King's Mistress's; and if it were the latter, yet doth he o­mit her Name and Title, both which (on what Authority we find not) are supplied by modern Historians, who call her Joan Countess of Salisbury, the same elsewhere cele­brated by the Name of the Fair Maid of Kent, (whom Edward the Black Prince, afterward married) whereas no Historian ever gave the least Inuendo that King Edward III. ever courted her as a Mistress. Selden points at her when he calls the Lady, from whom the Garter slipp'd, Countess of Kent and Salisbury: But about the Time when this Order was founded she in truth was dignified with neither Honour; for altho' she was Daughter to Tho. of Woodstock, Earl of Kent, and had been sometime the re­puted Wife of William Mountague, second Earl of Salisbury, yet then she cou'd not properly be accounted Countess of Salisbury. She was actually Wife to Sir Thomas Hol­land, (one of the First Founders of the Order.) Nor was she yet (tho' afterwards) Countess of K [...]nt, because her Brother John Earl of Kent, at the Institution of this Order, survived, and died not till 26 Edw. III.

[Page 121] THAT there was a Countess of Salisbury with whom King Edward III. became greatly enamour'd, Froissart re­ports after this manner, That this King having relieved a Castle of that Earl's in the North, wherein his Countess had been besieged by the Scots (the Earl himself being at that time Prisoner in France;) upon sight of her extraordinary Beauty he fell in love with her; but she so virtuously demeaned her self, during his Abode there, that he declined further Solicita­tion. However, some time after, the King out of De­sire to see her, proclaim'd solemn Justs in London, whi­ther this Countess and other Ladies being invited, came up. This Castle it seems was Wark upon Tweed in Nor­thumberland, which King Edward had formerly bestowed on her Husband, for his good Service past, when he first espoused her, being then but a Knight.

ALTHO' it should be admitted that this Countess of Salisbury was the King's Mistress, yet must it be re­mark'd, That she was Wife to William Mountague, Kt. created Earl of Salisbury, Anno 11 Edw. III. Mother to William the before-mention'd second Earl, that her Christian Name was Catherine, not Alice, as Froissart, not Joan, as others call her, Daughter to William Lord Granston, and that she expired 28 Edw. III. But that the whole may appear, what indeed it is, a meer Fable, we shall insert the Judgment of Dr. Heylin, who took great Pains in this Particular. This, says he, I take to be a vain and idle Romance, derogatory both to the Founder and the Order first published by Pol. Virgil, a Stranger to the Affairs of England, and by him taken upon no better ground than Fama Vulgi, the Tradition of the common People, too tri­fling a Foundation to so great a Building.

OF the same Contexture with the former is another Tradition in Andrew du Chesne, That the Queen departing from the King to her own Apartments, and he following soon after, chanced to espy a Blue Garter lying on the Ground (sup­posed to have slipp'd from her Leg) whilst some of his Atten­dants carelesly passed by it, as disdaining to stoop at such a Trifle; but he knowing the Owner, commanded it to be gi­ven him; at the Receipt of which he said, You make but small account of this Garter; but within few Months, I'll cause the b [...]st of you all to reverence it alike. Some suppose that the Motto was the Queen's Answer, when the King asked [Page 122] her, What Men would conjecture of her, upon her losing her Garter in such a manner?

BOTH Relations are far distant from Fact; never­theless it has thus far'd with other Orders of Sove­reign Foundation, and an amorous, instead of an ho­nourable Account, has been falsly render'd of their Institution; as for Instance, The Order of the Annun­ciade, and that of The Golden Fleece.

THERE is a third Opinion grounded on a Relation made of King Rich. I. who, whilst his Forces were employ'd against Cyprus and Acon, and extremely tir'd and harrass'd with the Siege, he, by the Assistance and Mediation of St. George (as imagin'd) was inspir'd with fresh Courage, and bethought himself of a new Device, which was to tie about the Legs of a Number of Knights, a Leathern Thong Garter, for such had he then at hand, whereby they being emulated to future Glory, with Assurance of Reward if they prov'd victo­rious, they might be excited to behave themselves in­trepidly and well, much after the Examples of the old Romans, among whom were distributed various Crowns for several Causes, to adorn the Soldiers: But if King Richard I. did make use of this Device in the Holy Land, as a Signal or Mark of Distinction of a Party, upon some warlike Exploit, yet that he took Occasion to create a distinct Order of Knighthood thereupon, there is not sufficient warrant to believe; (for it is only put down in the Preface of the Black Book, but not in any Part of the Annals of the Order; nor can it plead higher Antiquity than the Reign of King Hen. VIII. when written.) All the Advantage that can be made of it, is, to heighten the Reputation of that Saint among the English, by which Means the Garter came to be dedicated to him, and not that it contributed to its Institution.

§ 2. THE true Motive was therefore, neither the Ladies Garter, or King Richard's Leathern Thong, that it owes it Original to: But King Edward, being a Person of consummate Vertue, gave himself up to military Affairs; and being engag'd in War for reco­vering his Right to France, made use of the best Martialists [Page 123] of the Age, did thereupon first design (in­duc'd by its ancient Fame) the Restoration of King Arthur's Round Table, to invite hither the Gallant Spi­rits from abroad, and endear them to himself; and ad­judging no Place more requisite than Windsor, upon New-Year's-Day, A. D. 1344. he issu'd out Letters of Protection for the safe going and return of Foreign Knights, to try their Valour at the Solemn Justs to be held there on Monday after the Feast of St. Hilary fol­lowing (which happen'd Jan. 19.) And these Letters of Safe-Conduct continu'd in force until the Octaves of the Purification of our blessed Virgin ensuing, being the 18th Year of his Reign. At the Time appointed, he provided a great Supper to begin the Solemnity, and then ordain'd this Festival to be annually at Whit­sontide; and immediately after these first Exercises were over, for a future and better Accommodation, he im­press'd Workmen and Carriages for erecting a particu­lar Building in the Castle, and therein plac'd a Table of Two Hundred Foot Diameter, where the Knights should have their Entertainment of Diet, at his Ex­pence of 100 l. per Week; to which Building he gave the Name of The Round Table. And as at these great Conventions the Days were spent in all Kinds of no­ble Feats of Arms, Justs and Turnaments, so were a great Part of the Nights consum'd in publick Balls and dancing with the Ladies that attended the Queen thither; and perhaps it was hence conjectur'd, that at some of these Balls the Queen's Garter, or the Garter of Catherine, Countess of Salisbury, might slip off, and the King's taking it up occasion Smiles in the By­standers; and afterwards, when the King had modell'd his intended Order, a Garter offering it self for its chief Ensign, might add to the Conjecture; but that it was the principal Cause, is a groundless Imagination. And tho' King Edward advanc'd the Honour of the Garter, as to denominate the Order, yet was it not to enhance Reputation to, or perpetuate an effeminate Occasion, but to adorn Martial Prowess, with Ho­nours, Rewards and Splendor; to increase Vertue and Valour in the Hearts of his Nobility, that so true Worth, after long and hazardous Exploits, should not [Page 124] enviously be depriv'd of that Glory which it hath in­trinsically deserv'd, and that active and hardy Youths might not want a Spur in their Progression in the Paths of Vertue, which is to be esteem'd glorious and eternal.

IT is further observable, that the French King, Phi­lip de Valoys, in Emulation of this Seminary at Windsor, set up a Round Table at his Court, and invited Knights and valiant Men of Arms out of Italy and Almaine thi­ther, left they should repair to our King Edward III. which meeting with Success, prov'd a Countermine to his main Design; who perceiving that his Hospitality towards strange Knights, upon Account of reviving King Arthur's Round Table was too general, nor did suf­ficiently ingratiate them to his Person, but being un­constrain'd and at Liberty, did after their Departure take what Side they pleas'd in the ensuing Wars, he at length resolv'd upon a Projection more particu [...]ar and select, and such as might oblige those whom he thought fit to make his Associates, in a lasting Bond of Friendship and Honour: And having issu'd forth his own Garter for the Signal of a Battle, that was crown'd with Success, (which is conceiv'd to be the Battle of Cressy, fought about Three Years after his erecting the Round Table;) upon so remarkable a Victory, he thence took Occasion to institute this Order, and gave the Garter Preheminence among the Ensigns of it, whence that select Number, whom he incorporated into a Fra­ternity, are styl'd Equites Aureae Periscelidis, and vulgarly Knights of the Garter. By this Symbol he design'd to bind the Knights and Fellows of it mutually unto one anothe [...], and all of them joyntly to himself, as Sove­reign of the Order; nor was his Expectation frustra­ted, for it did not serve only as a vehement Spur and Incentive to Honour and martial Vertue, but also as a golden Bond of Unity and internal Society; and for [...]his Consideration Cambden aptly calls it a Badge of [...]nity and Concord.

BY the Symbols of this Garter the Knights are re­minded, with all Religiousness, Sincerity, Friendliness, Faithfulness and Dexterity, not to leave the Pursuit of whatsoever they take in hand, nor to enterprize any [Page 125] Thing contrary to the Statutes of the Order; neither to frustrate the Rights of Peace and Friendship, nor vilify the Law of Arms, or proceed in any Thing far­ther than Faith and Compact, or the Bond of Friend­ship will admit. Moreover, in the binding of the Leg with this enobled Ensign, there was given this Caveat and Exhortation, that the Knights should not pusilla­nimously (by running away from Battle) betray the Valour and Renown which is ingrafted in Constancy and Magnanimity. Nay, so exactly did the Founder contrive the whole Habit into the Signification of the Garter, that he ordain'd his and the Knights-Compa­nions Robes and Ornaments to be all alike, both for Materials and Fashion, intimating thereby, That they ought to conserve brotherly Affection among them­selves. The great Collar of the Order was made of equal Weight, and like Number of Knots and Links, in Token of the like Bond of Faith, Peace and Amity inviolably to be observ'd and retain'd amongst them: In fine, all Things were so design'd, that every one might plainly perceive how much these Things tended to the Maintenance of Amity and Concord.

IN further reference to the establishing this Order, the aforesaid King calling together the Earls, Barons, and principal Knights of his Kingdom, Freely, says Froissart, and obligingly declar'd his Mind to them concerning this Affair: To which all of them being well inclin'd, en­tertain'd the Motion with equal Joy and Applause, deeming it would prove a very great Advancement to Piety, Nobility and Vertue, and likewise an excellent Expedient for the uni­ting not only his Subjects one with another, but all Foreigners conjunctively with them, in the Bonds of Amity and Peace. And 'tis very improbable the prudent Founder should summon his Nobles to consult about the Grandeur of an Order, that had taken its Rise from so slight an Occasion as the dropping of a Garter from a Lady's Leg. Now, to draw the Tye of Friendship more close, the King caused those who were (or should be) of the Order, to be call'd Fellows, Associates, Colleagues, Brethren, and Knights-Companions, and the Order it self a Society, Fellowship, College of Knights, and Knight-Companionship; and their Habits to be all alike, to represent how they [Page 126] ought to be united in all Chances and various Turn [...] of Fortune; Co-partners both in Peace and War, assi­stant to one another in all serious and dangerous Ex­ploits; and thro' the whole Course of their Lives to shew Fidelity and Friendliness one towards another. There are other Reasons assign'd, much to the same Effect, That the Order was instituted to fortifie the Con­fidence of the King, the Kingdom and Martial Vertue; that is to say, to strengthen the Faith of the Subjects towards them, and for their greater Security, and because the Garter carries with it a Bond or Tye of Fellowship, and is a Symbol of Amity between Princes, being Companions of the same Order.

IN the last Place, if we look upon the Statutes of its Institution, we shall find the Injunctions wholly Mili­tary, and so are the Words of Admonition pronounc'd at the putting on the Ensigns of the Order: And the Ground of the Institution (in the Preamble to King Henry VIII's Exemplar) is said to be for the Honour of God and Exaltation of the Catholick Faith, joyn'd both with Piety and Charity, in establishing a College of religious Men to pray for the Prosperity of the Sovereign of the Order and the Knights-Companions, and to perform other holy Duties; as also or­daining a Maintenance for a Company of Alms-Knights, who have not otherwise wherewith to support themselves; but not one Word relating to the Engagement on behalf of the feminine Sex.

AND whereas King Edw. III. had laid Claim by his Title to the Kingdom of France, and in Right thereof assum'd its Arms, he from the Colour of them, 'tis said, caus'd the Garter to be made Blue, and the Circum­scription Gold: And it may, without straining, be in­ferr'd from the Motto, Honi soit qui mal y pense, that he retorted Shame and Defiance upon him that should dare to think amiss of so just an Enterprize, as he had undertaken for recovering of his lawful Right to that Crown; and that the Magnanimity and Bravery of those Knights, whom he had elected into this Or­der, was such as would impower and enable them to maintain the Quarrel against all who thought ill of it. Consonant to this is the Conjecture of Harpsfield, that this Apophthegm was design'd to put the Knights-Companions [Page 127] in mind, Not to admit any Thing in their Actions, or among their Thoughts, derogatory to themselves and their Honour.

THAT Age did exceedingly abound with Impresses, Motto's and Devices, and particularly King Edw. III. was so excessively given up to them, that his Apparel, Plate, Bed, Houshold-Furniture, Shields, and even the Harness of his Horses, and the like, were not without them, many of which now to descant upon would be a fruitless Attempt, seeing the Occasion of the Inven­tion, and the Circumstances are lost, that should illu­strate them; and others, by reason of their Brevity, seem'd insignificant, in regard something was design­edly omitted, and left to be understood, which cannot now be rightly supply'd, so as to arrive at the Mind of the Inventor. Of this Number may be this Motto, It is as it is, which was embroider'd upon a Doublet of that King; tho' there are others which seem more easy to be decypher'd; as that daring Motto wrought upon his Surcoat and Shield provided to be used at a Tur­nament,

§ 3. THE time when the Order was instituted, Hi­storians differ widely about; Selden, Cowper, and others, from Froissart (who wrote temp. Rich. II.) would have it in the 18th of King Edw. III. But since Frois­sart errs, in making the Number of Knights-Compa­nions no fewer than Forty, which is a grand Mistake, Why might not he trip in Point of Time, and con­found the Year of its Erection, with that wherein the Founder renew'd the Order of The Round Table, Wind­sor being the Place for both. For should we admit, that during some Part of the Solemnity held in this King's 18th Year, when the Accident of the Lady's Garter slipping off happen'd, what other Inference can be made, but that he had only an Intention to put in Execution somewhat afterwards? Not that an Order was actually [...]rected at that Time: Besides, the Jollity of the Season, the Greatness of the Concourse, and [Page 128] the Splendidness of the Festivity, it was too busy a Time to suffer much Consultation tending thereunto; or at least to mould and model a Design so compleat and substantial, as it appears to have been even at first. If we joyn Fabian, he is plain, that tho' the King de­sign'd the Institution at the End of the Festival, (which he places between Candlemas and Lent, in the 19th, and not 18th Year of that King) Yet was it not then, saith he, but afterwards establish'd by him. Never­theless, Mr. Selden elsewhere observes, it had its Ori­ginal in the 24th Year of the said King. And our in­dustrious Stow (with whom Lily, Speed, and Segar agree) tells us, That the first Feast of the Order was celebrated A. D. 1350. which exactly agrees to the 24th of Ed­ward III. But Polydore Virgil places it after the 25th of Edward III. We must therefore have recourse to some other Proofs for elucidating this Point, since this Chro­nological Aera of the true Time of its Institution hath wonderfully slipp'd the Pens of all Writers.

ADMITTING then that the erecting this Order was first thought of by King Edward, at some of those grand Assemblies of The Round Table, held after the French King had set up the like; yet was it not ma­ture, or brought to any Perfection, till after his glorious Victories and Triumphs over the French and Scots in the Battles of Cressy and Nevil's Cross, (in the last of which the Scotch King, David, was taken Prisoner) and until King Edward had Calais surrendred to him, as will appear very conspicuous.

AMONG the Rolls of the Great Wardrobe, is one containing the Account of all the King's Liveries, from Michaelmas Anno 21, to the 31st of Jan. 23 Edw. III. In the same are divers Things mention'd to be adorn'd with Garters, which were provided against the first grand Feast of St. G orge; and among the rest, the Royal Robes, viz. his Mantle, Surcoat and Hood; likewise a Bed of Blue Taffaty was bedeck'd with Gar­ters, containing the Motto, Honi soit qui mal y pense. There were made for the Sovereign Three Harnesses, whereof Two were of White Velvet, wrought over with Garters de blu & d [...]asp [...]i per totum compedmein cum Woodhouses; and the Third de Velve [...]to Ynde cont. Lapp [...]kin [Page 129] quisseux & caligas, wrought over likewise with Garters. Had the Roll been divided into Years, or had distinguishing Marks of Time upon it, we might have been guided with more Certainty as to the true Year of the Institution. However, we may thence conclude it was not founded in the 18th of Edw. III. because that the Sovereign's Robes were not made until the 22d Year of his Reign at soonest; perhaps not till the Beginning of the 23d. But to put the Matter beyond dispute, the Founder's Statutes fix the Time of Institution to his 23d Year; so do the Sta­tutes of King Henry V. and the Preface to the Black Book, Leland, Mills and Dr. Heylin. To conclude, when he had fix'd upon the Day and Place for [...]elebrating the first grand Feast of this Order, he sent his Heralds into Germany, France, Scotland, Burgundy, Hainault, Flanders and Brabant, to invite all Knights and Esquires, (with Assurance of Safe-Conduct and Liberty for Fifteen Days, both before and after the grand Solemnity) to shew their military Prowess and other publick Exer­cises there to be perform'd, proper to the Place and Occasion; agreeable to which Invitation, sundry Knights and Gallant Men came over to signalize their Valour; and what made the Solemnity more glorious, King Edward's Queen was there present, attended with Three Hundred of the fairest Ladies, in all imaginable Splendor and Gaity.

§ 4. THE Patrons of the Order were several, under whose Protection (according to the Custom of the Age) King Edw. III. put himself and all the Knights-Compa­nions, that the Affairs of the Order might be defended, preserved and govern'd.

THE first and chiefest which he elected, was the Holy Trinity, which in a more especial Manner was in­vocated to the Aid and Assistance of this Order.

Secondly, King [...]dward III. intitled peculiarly the blessed Virgin Mary, accounted then the general Media­trix and Protectress of all Men; unto whom Kin [...] Ed­ward IV. was so strictly devoted, that he thought some additional Ceremonies requisite to her farther Honour, and thereupon ordain'd [...] that on her Five Solemnities [Page 130] the Knights Companions should annually (as accu­stom'd on the Feast of St. George) wear the Habit of the Order as long as Divine Service was celebrating, (unless they had sufficient Cause of excuse) bearing on the right Shoulders of their Robes a golden Figure of the Virgin Mary; and that they should go in the same Manner and Habit upon all Sundays throughout the Year; and lastly, that on the same Days for ever they should say Five Pater Nosters, with as many Ave Maria's.

Thirdly, St. George of Cappadocia, a most choice Cham­pion of Christ and famous Martyr, was also elected one of the Patrons to this Order by King Edward III. not so much as he was a Professor of the Christian Faith, or for that he was an armed Soldier or Knight of Christ, but so much the more because in those Wars, which were waged by the Christians against the Infi­dels, he by several Appearances manifested his Pre­sence as a most certain Encourager and Assistant to the Christians; the Relations whereof may be seen in Dr. Heylin's History, who hath laboriously and judiciously maintain'd the History of this Saint, against those that will not allow him a Place in Heaven, or a Being in the Church. In like manner the learned Selden hath avouch'd him to be the special Patron, Protector, De­fender, and Advocate of this Realm of England; and has made it plainly appear in what Veneration he hath been honour'd abroad, especially among the Eastern Nations. To whose corroborating Testimonies we shall add, That this Title of Patron to our Nation, as given to St. George by the Founder of this Order, in a Patent granted to the Dean and Canons of the Chapel of St. Stephen at Westmins [...]er, and St. George at Windsor, which dischargeth them from Payment of Tythes; as also by King Henry VIII. in the Preamb [...]e of his St [...] ­tutes. And tho' in general he is sty [...]'d the Principal Patron of the Affairs of Christendom, and a tutelar Guar­dian of military Men, yet among all Christians the English did excel; and in this Nation the Founder of this Order, in making choice of such an approv'd [...] Captain and Patron, in particular Resp [...]ct o [...] whom the Knights had the Title of [...] St. George's Knights, and the Order it self came to [...] [Page 131] call'd the Ordo Divi Sancti Georgii, The Order of St. George.

IT is remarkable, that Du Chesn [...] a noted French Hi­storian, acknowledges it was by the special Invocation of St. George that King Edward III. gain'd the Battle of Cressy, which afterwards bringing to his Remembrance, He founded, says he, a Chapel within the Castle of Wind­sor. But if we may ascend a step higher, and give credit to Harding, it's recorded King Arthur paid St. George particular Honours, for he advanc'd his Picture in one of his Banners, which was about Two Hundred Years after his Martyrdom, and very early for a Coun­try so remote from Cappadocia to have him in Reverence and Esteem.

Lastly, The Founder added a fourth Patron, whose Name himself bore, viz. St. Edward the Confessor, his Predecessor, King of Eng [...]and; and we find he was wont to be invocated by this Founder, as well as St. George, in any great Difficulties and Streights. Wal­singham gives an Instance at the Skirmish of Calais, A. D. 1349. when King Edward, in great Anger and Grief, drew out his Sword, and most passionately cry'd out, Ha St. Edward, Ha St. George; which his Soldiers hear [...]ng, ran presently to him, and rushing violently upon the Enemy, put many of them to the Sword. These Four Patrons we find recorded together in the Preamble of the Foundation of Windsor College by King Edward III. tho' in the Preamble to his Statutes of the Order, and to King Henry V's Statutes, St. Edward the Confessor is omitted; nevertheless he is enumerated with the rest in the Preamble to King H [...]nry VIII's.

§ 5. As to the Honour and Reputation of this Noble Order, either in Comparison with others, or in Refe­rence to it self, it challenges the Precedency of Anti­quity, before the eldest Rank of Honour of that Kind any where establish'd.

Second [...]y, The Statutes of the Foundation were so ex­quisitely and judiciously devised and compacted, upon such solid Foundations of Honour and Nobleness, that they afterwards became a Precedent to other Orders; and gave the Plan to those Two of The Golden Fl [...]ece and [Page 132] of Monsieur St. Michael, as is manifest by comparing their Statutes.

Thirdly, It is no small Honour that accrues to this Order, that the Number of these Knights-Companions were never encreas'd, but as they were Twenty Six with the Sovereign, so they now thus continue, ut Pretium faciat raritas; for the infringing this Article hath split several other military Orders into Contempt and Ruin, as nothing more tarnishing, or throwing a fully on the Worth of Glory and Honour, than when render'd so vulgar, and indifferently disposed without Distinction and Merit, as is exemplify'd in The Order of the Star, and the now declining Order of St. Mi­chael.

Fourthly, It has receiv'd more additional Lustre by being honour'd with the Companionship of divers Em­perors, Kings and Sovereign Princes, who esteem [...]d it the Summit of their Glory, and the highest Trophy of additional Honour, to be enroll'd in the Number. In­somuch that some of them with Impatience courted the Election. For we find recorded in the Register, A. D. 1672. Eight Emperors of Germany, Three Kings of Spain, Five French Kings, Two Kings of Scotland, Five Kings of Denmark, Five Kings of Portugal, Two Kings of Sweden, One King of Poland, One King of Arragon, Two Kings of Naples, besides divers Dukes and other free Princes; as One Duke of Guelderland, One Duke of Holland, Two Dukes of Burgundy, Two Dukes of Bruns­wick, One Duke of Milan, Two Dukes of Urbin, One Duke of Ferrara, One Duke of Savoy, Two Dukes of Holstein, One Duke of Saxony, and One Duke of Wertem­berg, Seven Count Palatines of the Rhin [...], Four Princes of Orange, and One Marquis of Brandenburg.

Fifthly, It entitles those Knights and Noblemen, whose Vertue hath rais'd them to this Pitch of Greatness, to be Companions and Associates with Emperors and Kings, a Prerogative of an high Nature, and a suffici­ent Recompence for the greatest Merit. We shall close up all with the high Elogy bestow'd on it by the learned Selden, That it exceeds in Majesty, Honour and Fame, all Chivalrous Orders of the World.

ORDER and Regularity is not only the Beauty and Symmetry of Government and Societies, but also greatly contributes to their Establishment and Perpetuity. Statutes and Rules are as well the Bounds to determine, as Bonds to unite Fellowship and Societies together; and if either fall into difuse, or be unadvisedly broken, they open a Field to Disso­lution and Ruin.

SUCH like Considerations mov'd and excited the vi­ctorious King Edward III. (after he had determin'd the Erection of this most renown'd Order of the Garter) to devise and institute several laudable Statutes and Ordinances, to be duly observ'd and kept within the said Order; which being collected into one Body, are call'd The Statutes of Institution.

THE Original of these was ordain'd to be kept with­in the Treasury of the College of Windsor, but hath long since wholly perish'd; yet a Transcript of them is recorded in the Reign of King Henry V. in an old Book call'd Registrum Ordinis Chartaceum. Two more ancient Exemplars of this Body of Statutes are also in being; the one in the Library of the Lord Hatton, and the other in the Black Book of the Order; and comparing them together, I shall here give from the Latin the Heads they consist of.

1. THE King of England, his Heirs and Successors, are to be Sovereigns or Superiors of this Order.

2. NONE are to be admitted, unless he be a Gen­tleman of Blood, and that he be a Knight and without Reproach.

3. THE Knights-Companions were to be Twenty Six, [...]ach to have at Windsor a Mantle and Garter for the better Splendor of the Order; to wear the said [Page 134] Habit whensoever they go to the Chapel of St. George or Chapter-House, to hold a Chapter, or do any thing relating to their Order. In like manner they are to wear the Habit upon the Vigils of St. George, in their Procession from the King's Lodgings to the Chapel or Chapter-House, and returning back, and during Sup­per, continue so habited till it be over, and likewise on the Morrow of St. George's Day, at Chapel, Dinner-time, Supper-time, and afterwards all the said Day, until the Sovereign or his Deputy shall deposite the Ensigns of the Order, and decree their Departure.

4. THERE were to be Thirteen Canons Secular, who at the Time of their Institution, or within a Year, were to be Priests, and as many Vicars already Priests, or to be made so at the next Ordination, answerable to the number of the Knights-Companions; these religious Persons to be presented by the several Founders each one, and upon the Death or Vacancy of such presented, the Sovereign of the Order ever afterwards to have the Nomination of them, who were bound to pray for the good Estate of the Sovereign and his Kingdom, and particularly for this Order.

5. THE Canons were to wear a Purple Mantle, with the Arms of St. George in a Roundle upon their right Shoulder.

6. THERE were to be Twenty Six poor veterane Knights, [...]ach to have a competent Subsistence, their Election to be after the manner of the Canons afore­said.

7. THESE Knights were to have a Red Mantle, with the Arms of St. George; but without any Circle of the Garter about it.

8. IF the Sovereign could not be present at the solemn Festival of St. George, his Deputy was to supply his Place at the Charge of the Sovereign; but such Depu­ty was not to make any new Ordinances, tho' he has License to correct or amend the old Ones.

9. EVERY Year, upon the Vigils of St. George, the Knights-Companions within the Realm, or elsewhere, if conveniently, are to assemble, at Windsor Castle, and be present there at the Celebration of Divine Service, in the Habit of the Order, where placed regularly in [Page 135] their Stalls or Seats, directly over their Heads their Helmets and Swords, &c. are to be hung up, and re­main as long as such Knights live, in Honour of them, and to signify the Defence of the Church, to which they are obliged as a Military Order; but in case the Feast of St. George happens to fall within the Quin­dene or Fifteen Days after the Feast of Easter, then it was to be prorogued to the Sunday next following, ac­counting Fifteen Days from Easter Day, that every Knight-Companion might have reasonable time to come, nor be forced to ride upon any of the Three Easter Holy-days.

10. THAT they meet in St. George's Chapel yearly, on the Eve of St. George, at the Hour of Three in the Af­ternoon; and if they come not at the Time assigned, without a just Excuse, which the Sovereign or his De­puty allows, their Penalty is to be according to the Ordinance of the Chapter; which is, That they shall not enter into the Chapter Door for that time, but s [...]ay without, and shall have no Voice in any thing that is done in the said Chapter; and if they come not before the Beginning of Vespers, they shall not enter into their Stalls, but shall tarry below before the said Stalls in the Choiristers Places during Vespers. The like Penalty is ordain'd for not coming to the Mass or Morn­ing-Service betime, and at Vespers, on St. George's Day; and whosoever shall absent himself wholly from this Solemnity, without sufficient Excuse and Leave from the Sovereign or Deputy, he is not to enter within his Stall the next Feast after, but shall stay below, and be­fore his Stall, as it is said at Vespers, and in the Mor­rows Procession must walk before the Three processional Crosses, [now the Cho [...]risters,] and at Mass [Service] shall sit below until the Offering, and he to offer last. After which he is to come before the Sove­reign, or his Deputy's Stall, and ask Pardon, which re-instates him in his Stall. Absenting the next second Time upon the Feast, without Leave, he has no Stall allowed him until he hath given and offered a Jewel upon St. George's Altar, to the Value of Twenty Marks, which is to be double every Year until a Reconci­liation.

[Page 136] 11. WHERESOEVER they be, they must wear their Blue Robes from the Beginning of the first Vespers, on the Eve of St. George's Day, to the second Vespers on the Morrow inclusive, &c.

12. IF any Knight-Companion appears publickly without his dignifying Garter, upon challenging the same, is to pay half a Mark to the Custos and College.

13. AT the Times of Offering, each associated with the other who holds the opposite Stall, are to march in Procession together to make their Offerings; but a­lone, when his Consort is absent, and so that in all Pro­cessions the Sovereign goes last.

14. IN the Morrow after the Solemnity of St. George's Feast is over, before their separating, a Mass de Requie or Office de Defunctis was to be used, at which the Knights-Companions were all entirely to be present, without necessary Impediment shown to the Sovereign or Deputy for Liberty to depart.

15. THEY were to leave their Robes at Windsor al­ways, to be ready for them there upon any sudden Oc­casions that might evene.

16. JOURNYING near Windsor, in Honour of the Place, unless lawful Cause obstructs, they must take it in their Way, and assuming the Habit of the Order the Canons wore, devoutly to meet and conduct them into the Chapel; where, if it happens to be time of Divine Service, they are to hear the same; if not, they are to be detained no longer than while the Canons shall say the Psalm de profundis for the Defunct, and during their own Offering: But if any had riden thro' the Town, without visiting the Chapel and offering there, for every Neglect he must go one Mile on Foot from the said Chapel, to shew his Obedience, and offer an Half-Penny in Honour of St. George.

17. UPON first Notice of the Death of any of the Or­der, the Sovereign shall ordain a Thousand Masses, every Foreign Prince shall cause Eight Hundred, a Prince of Wales Seven Hundred, a Duk [...] Six Hun­dred, an Earl Three Hundred, every Baron Two Hundred, and every Knight Batchellor One Hundred Masses to be celebrated for the Good of the Soul departed; [Page 137] which neglected for a Quarter of a Year after notice of such Death, the Masses are to be doubled; upon half a Year's Neglect, again doubled; and so from Time to Time in like Form till the End of the Year, and then the Year's to be doubled.

18. UPON sure Notice of the Death of a Knight-Companion, the Sovereign, or his Deputy, is to con­verse by Letters, the Remainder [not Strangers] that are within the Kingdom, to meet him within Six Weeks in some convenient Place, and elect another; which as­sembled, at least Six, with the Sovereign or Deputy, e­very of them present is to name Nine of the worthiest and sufficientest Knights without Reproof that he knows, whether native Subjects or Foreigners, sobeit they hold no contrary Party, or be against the Sove­reign, viz. Three Earls, or of sublimer Title; Three Barons, and Three Knights Batchellors, which Names the Bishop of Windsor, for the Time being, was to write, or, in his Absence, the Dean or Register, and, in their Absence, the oldest Residencer in the College, and after shew them to the Sovereign, who is to chuse out of them him that has the most Voices, and whom he esteems the most beneficial to the Crown and King­dom. Every Knight failing to appear at an Election, without an approved Cause, was to pay to the Custos and College the Penalty of a Mark, and at his next coming to the Chapter shall kneel upon the Ground, in the midst of the Chapter, before the Sovereign or De­puty, until Reconciliation.

19. SOON after Election, the Knight-Companion elect is to have a Garter, in token of his Election, and that he is a Fellow of the Order; and as soon as decreed to take Possession of his Stall, but not before, is to have a Mantle, which, if he dies before he receiv'd, he was not to be accounted as one of the Order, because he wanted Possession; nevertheless he was to have one half of the Masses abovesaid, because he had the Gar­ter deliver'd to him and nothing beside. If he was not installed within a Year after his receiving the Garter, and especially if within the Realm, and without rea­sonable Excuse to be allowed of by the Sovereign or Deputy, his Election became void, and they might proceed [Page 138] to a new one: Moreover, neither the Sword nor Helmet was to be put upon his Stall within the Castle, before his coming; to the End, that if the Knight elect came not, his Atchievements might not be unhandsomly taken down and abused, but honourably removed in­to the Choir for the publick Use and Profit of the said College.

20. EVERY Foreigner elected was to have Certifica­tion of such his Election from the Sovereign, at the Sovereign's Charge, who was to send him the Garter and the Mantle, and a Copy of the Statutes of the Or­der, under the Common Seal of the said Order, with­in Four Months after the Election, the better for him to advise on; which being accepted, of whatsoever Con­dition he be, he was obliged within Eight Months after to send a sufficient Proxy, according to his State and Dignity, a Knight irreprehensible to be installed in his Room, and who was to bring with him a Silk Mantle of the Blue Colour of the Order, also a Sword and Helmet to remain at Windsor, which Mantle was be put upon the right Shoulder of the Proxy, by the Sove­reign or Deputy at the time of Installment, when he is introduced to take the Stall in the Name of his Lord and Master; neither was he to deposite the same till the End of Divine Service; after which he was not to wear it, nor be admitted in the Chapter-House, or have any Suffrage, by virtue of any Powers vested in him; but this Favour Foreigners elected by Proxy were to have, that could not personally come themselves, they were to be Partakers of the whole Masses and Orisons of the Order; whereas, if they died before the Installation, they were to have but a Moity of them.

21. UPON the Death of any Earl, [or of Superior Dignity] Baron, or Knight Batchellor, his Successor, whether Earl, [or of Superior Dignity] Baron, or Knight, was to have a vacant Stall of his Pred [...]c [...]ssor, without any changing of Places, except the Prince of Wales alone, who was to have always the next Stall, and opposite to the Sovereign; so that it may happen for a Knight to have an Earl's Place, or an Earl a Knight's Place; and this because the first Founders might be [...]nown.

[Page 139] 22. EVERY Knight-Companion at his first Entrance, was to give a certain Alms, according to their Eminence and Degree, for the perpetual Maintenance of the Ca­nons and Poor Knights, viz. the Sovereign Forty Marks, a Foreign King Twenty Pounds, a Prince of Wales Twenty Marks, a Duke Ten Pounds, an Earl Ten Marks, a Baron a Hundred Shillings, and a Knight Batchellor Five Marks, that by these pious Don [...]tions they might justly entitle themselves to the Name and Privileges of the Order; wherefore, before these Pay­ments were rightly performed, their Sword and Helmet [Atchievements] were not to be hung up, and for Fo­reigners the Sovereign was obliged to pay himself.

23. UPON the Death of any of the Founders his Arms, in a Plate of Metal, was to be fixed upon the Back of his Stall, and their Successors were to have the like, but to be placed underneath their Predecessors, and not to be so great as those of the first Founders.

24. AT Admission every Knight-Companion must promise and swear personally, or by Proxy, faithfully to observe the Statutes of the Order, and none are to be installed by Proxy but Foreigners only, which can­not conveniently come in Person.

25. IF the Sovereign be out of England at the Instal­lation of any Knight-Companion, or could not attend himself to do what appertains to him in that Point, he might impower and authorize any of the Fellows to of­ficiate for him.

26. THAT there be a Common Seal or Signet Keeper, whom the Sovereign was to assign.

27. EVERY Knight-Companion was to have a Copy of the Statutes under the Seal of the Order, the Ori­ginal sealed likewise with the said Seal, to remain for evermore within the Treasury of the College, and upon the Death of any Knight-Companion, his Executors were to send back such Copy to be deliver'd to the Cu­stos or Warden.

28. NO Knight-Companion was to go out of the Realm and Dominion of England, without the Know­l [...]dge and Licence of the Sovereign, who of Grace and Favour is bound to grant it upon a Military Expedition, or other notable Act appertaining to the Honour of [Page 140] Knighthood, in Preference and Advancement of this Order of St. George.

29. THEY were not to arm themselves against each other, but in the Wars of their Sovereign Lord, in his right and just Quarrel; and if it happen'd that any of the Order should be retain'd in the Cause and Quarrel of any Lord, and the adverse Party desir'd another Knight-Companion on his Side, that latter Knight isby no means to agree but to excuse himself in all Things, because his Fellow was armed on the other Side, and was retain'd before him. And every Knight was bound to except and agree, at his being retain'd, that he may have his Discharge from the Wars, upon any of the Order's being engaged in Arms before him for the con­trary Party; and if the second retained knows not of it, upon notice that any of his Fellows were retained be­fore him, and armed on the contrary Side, the second retained Knight was to excuse himself to his Master, and relinquish the Quarrel.

30. ALL Licences given to the Knight-Companions to travel in quest of Honour by Military Exploits; also all Certificates, mandatous Letters, Certificates, and o­ther Writings whatsoever relating to the Order, were to be issued out by the Sovereign, under the Seal of the Order, to remain in the keeping of one of the Order, during the Sovereign's Pleasure. And if the Keeper of the Seal absent himself upon reasonable Cause, he was to leave the Seal with another of the Fellowship that the Sovereign should appoint, to the Intent that the Seal at no time be out of the Presence of the Sove­reign, he being within his Dominion. And in like manner concerning the Seal in the Absence of the Sove­reign or the Deputy.

31. IF any Knight-Companion for Devotion sake should desire to dwell at Windsor, he was to maintain himself at his own, and not at the College Charge.

32. ANY other Knight, not of the Order, upon the Account of Devotion, that would reside there, was to be provided for at the Appointment of the Sovereign, and the Fellowship also. Any Knight or other Person giving 10 l. yearly Rents or Lands, or more, to the College, to participat [...] of their Prayers and Suffrages, [Page 141] he was to be registred in the Calendar of Benefactors, and continually be pray'd for by the Canons and Poor Knights.

33. UPON the Death of any Canon, the Custos or Warden is to certify the same by Letters to the Sove­reign, if beyond Sea, to know whom he pleases to pre­sent to the Canonship.

34. THERE was to be a Register appointed by the Sovereign and Fellowship, the most intelligent Person of the College, who was to be present at the Chapters, to record their Elections and the Electors, their Punish­ments, and Causes of them, with their Reconciliations, all Acts whatsoever administred in their Council, from Chapter to Chapter yearly; for the faithful Execution of which Office he was to be sworn at his Admission therein; and whatsoever had been register'd was in the Beginning of the following Chapter, on the Vigils of St. George, to be publickly recited before the Sovereign and the whole Fellowship, that what was amiss and incorrect might be mended and reduced to due Form.

§ 2. BESIDES these Statutes there are Two other Bodies, or Exemplars establish'd since, the one by King Henry V. the other by King Hen. VIII. King Henry V. finding the Glory of the Order declining, removed the Grand Festival and other Solemnities, and commanded a strict Observation of all the Founder's Statutes, and brought many more to like Perfection, which he sub­joined to such of them, where they might be prop [...]rly and are as follow:

To Article

• 3. That the Knights should mark their Obeisance in the Choir first to the Altar, and next to the Sovereign, or in his Ab­sence to his Stall.
• 8. THAT the Deputy should [...]lect, if the Sovereign (when abroad) had not Six Knights with him.
• 9. THAT the Feast of St. George should not be kept upon St. Mark's Day, nor the Days of St. Philip and Jacob, nor of the [Page 142] Holy Cross, neither upon any Days whic [...] should happen in the Festivals of th Ascension or Pentecost, or other solem [...] Feasts ordained by the Church to the interrupting their Divine Service.
• 12. THAT when a Knight should rid [...] out he might wear a Blue Silk Ribbon instead of his Garter.
• 14. THAT the Order and Manner o [...] Offering up the Atchievements should b [...] as is there prescribed, viz. before the [...] offer their Money, their Swords should b [...] first offered by Two Companions, which the Sovereign or his Deputy should ap­point, and afterwards their Helmets with their Crests, by Two others of the Order.
• 20. THAT Knights absent in the Sove­reign's Service might be install'd by De­puty.
• 31. THAT the Sovereign should take a Signet of the Order abroad with him, to be fixed to all the Acts he does in Foreign Parts relating to this Order, in Distinction to those done at home.
• 34. THAT no Charge should be admitted upon the College by the Custos or Canons, without the Sovereign's Consent likewise.

THE Statutes with these Additions (as the Statutes of Institution) this King caused to be translated into French, and transcribed into a Roll, which was ordered to be presented to every Knight-Companion under the com­mon Seal of the Order. In after Times it was tran­scribed into Books; and by a Decree, Anno [...] Hen. VII. an Original Book of these Statutes and Institution [...], fair written, was to be reposed in the College of St. G [...]org [...], and the Scribe or Register to have Transcripts of them in Readiness, to present the elected Knights withal.

THE last and largest Body was first began, and re­ceived the finishing S [...]roke by King Hen. VIII. chiefly in regard some of the former Statutes wanted Explication [Page 143] and others Contraction. And for the compleating of which Purpose, on St. George's Day, Anno 9 Regni sui he summoned all the Knights-Companions to convene next Year at the Time of the Solemnity, about the Ab­rogation of what tended to darken the Honour of this Order (if any such were) and for the Advancement of what might promote the Grandeur and Lustre of it. But these Resolves came to no Perfection till May 28. Anno 11 Regni sui, when he entred upon this Reforma­tion with all magnificent Ceremony imaginable, for be­ing accompanied with Nineteen Knights-Companions of the Order proceeding in Cavalcade to the Chapter-House, and taking into Consideration their former Statutes of Knights-Companions, with all due Reve­rence implor'd the Sovereign to reform and explain them as he should think convenient, which he brought to a successful Period, by the Advice and Consent of the Society assembled: That done, all present entreated the Sovereign, kneeling, that where any of them had been peccant against the Order, he would please to re­mit, and issue out a general Pardon, which he granted and ratify'd in Chapter next Day. This was a Task of Three Years compleat before it rose to Perfection, viz. April 23. Anno 14 Hen. VIII. for then the Sovereign, out of right singular Love, well-temper'd Zeal, and entire Affection to this most noble Order, to the Estate of Chivalry, and the Continuance and Encrease thereof; as also at the humble Request and instant Importunity of the then Knights-Companions, and by their Ad­vice, Counsel and Consent, did interpret and eluci­date all the Obscurities, Doubts and Ambiguities of the former Statutes and Ordinances. Divers Affairs contain'd in Fifty of them being explain'd and amended; he made likewise necessary Additions, the Original whereof being sign'd and seal'd, were commanded to be carefully laid up in the Treasury of Windsor Col­lege, to remain as a Standard to succeeding Times; yet they have not been seen there these many Years past.

THE Articles and Clauses added to the former Sta­ [...]utes, in this last Body, are these:

[Page 144]To Article

• 1. THAT the Interpretation of the Statutes, &c. belongeth to the Sove­reign.
• 2. THE Three Points of Reproach de­clar'd, and what is meant by a Gentle­man of Blood.
• 4. OF the Prerogative of the Feast.
• 5. HOW the Feast is to be observed by absent Knights.
• 6. ATTENDANCE on the Sovereign, if he be not at the Feast.
• 7. THAT the Sovereign's Deputy may correct Things in Chapter.
• 12. THE offering up of Atchievements, and a Taper arm'd with an Escutcheon.
• 13. CANONS to sit in the lower Stalls, when any Knights are present.
• 14. THAT Six Knights make a Chap­ter.
• 20. THE Manner of Installation set down.
• 21. CLAUSE for a Foreign Knight's Deputy to be conducted from the Chap­ter-House to the Stall; and for making an Election void, if the Knight send not his Proxy within Seven Months.
• 23. FOR advancing and translating of Stalls.
• 25. PLATES not to be larger than the first Founders, except Strangers.
• 27. THE Time Three Months prefix'd for the Executor of a deceas'd Knight-Companion to send back the Copy of the Orders deliver'd to him at his Admission, which might be also sent to one of the principal Officers of the Order.
• 38. CONCERNING the Collar of the Order.

THIS Body of Statutes was compil'd in Latin, and is recorded in the Black Book of the Order. It was tran­slated into French and English by Sir Thomas Wriothesl [...]y, [Page 145] Kt. then Garter King of Arms. The English Version annex'd here to this Treatise, is what hath since been deliver'd (instead of the former Statutes) to all suc­ceeding Knights-Companions, according to the Injun­ction; but of late Times appointed to be sent to Fo­reign Princes and other elect Knights abroad, sealed with the Great Seal of the Order, affix'd to a Label of Blue Silk and Gold.

§ 3. THERE have been several Endeavours since the Reign of King Henry VIII. for reforming the Statutes. As first, King Edward VI. who as Sovereign, by the Orders themselves, had an undoubted Prerogative set him to alter and reform many Things which seem'd inconsistent with the Religion he establish'd. To which Purpose, at a Chapter at Greenwich, held April 23. in the Third Year of his Reign, the Lord St. John, the Earl of Arundel, and Sir William Paget, were to peruse and make them agreeable to the King's other Proceed­ings, by the Assistance and Advice of the Protector, the Duke of Somerset, and other Companions. This was follow'd by a subsequent Order pass'd in the Cha [...]ter at Greenwich the Year after, that the Statutes should be reform'd and corrected as they thought expedient: And for the better Accomplishment of their Design, at the next Feast, April 24. 5 Edw. VI. another Order commenc'd, impowering the Duke of Somerset, the Mar­quess of Northampton, the Earls of Warwick, Arundel, Bedford and Wi [...]ts, to peruse and amend the Statures and other Books of the Order, which were brought to some tolerable Degree of Perfection; for thereupon a new Body was collected (in general very much alter­ing the Laws of the Order) and publish'd March 17. Anno 7 Edw. VI. But this King within Four Months after expiring, Queen Mary, his Sister and Successor, the very first Thing she transacted was to abrogate and make them void; wherefore we need not mention them, as never in use and unrevived. For the Execu­tion of which Purpose, she conven'd a Chapter at St. James's, the 27th of September following; and it was then decreed, that the said Laws and Ordinances, as inconvenient, impertinent, and tending to Novelty, [Page 146] should be disannulled, and no Account to be made of them for the future; and for the quicker Execution, Sir William Petre (that Day admitted Chancellor) had Or­ders to see them speedily expung'd out of the Book of Statutes, and forthwith defac'd, lest any Memory of them should remain to Posterity; and only those of her Father, Hen. VIII. and his Royal Predecessors, should be retain'd.

IN this Affair King Philip, her Husband, appear'd no less zealous; for on the 5th of August, 1 and 2 Philip and Mary, (which was the 3d Day after he had been invested with the Habit) himself being present at a Chapter at Windsor, it was ordain'd, That all Acts and Decrees in the Great Book, [i.e. the Black Book afore­said] which were repugnant and disagreeable, either with the ancient and receiv'd Statutes of the Order, or else with the Laws of the Realm, should clearly be abolish'd and erased, by the Marquis of Winchester, the Earls of Arund [...]l, Pembroke, and the Lord Paget.

No sooner was Queen Elizabeth fix'd on the Throne, but soon after, viz. on St. George's Day, in the second Year of her Reign, a View of the Statutes was com­mitted, by Commission, to Four of the Knights-Com­panions, viz. the Marquis of Northampton, the Earls of Arundel and Pembroke, and the Lord Howard of Effing­ham, who were thereby impower'd to peruse and con­sider those Statutes with the utmost Care and regard, if any of them were repugnant to the Religion, Laws and Statutes of the Realm; and if any such were re­corded, to represent them faithfully to the Sover [...]ign, that she, in Conjunction with the Knights-Companions, might establish such Decrees concerning them as she should think sit; but that any thing was done in pur­suance hereunto, doth not appear; for the Transcripts of her Father's Body of the Statutes, throughout the Time of her Reign, were presented to the Kn [...]ghts-Companions at their Instailations; and the Practice of her Time was pursuant to the Direction therein, except in some few Things now and then added or alter'd at future Chapters, when there arose fresh Matters for such Expedients.

[Page 147] KING James I. her Successor, revolv'd something to­wards a new Regulation; and in order to put it in Execution, the 14th of May, in the 9th Year of his Reign, decreed, That Commissionary Letters should be granted to the Earls of Nottingham, Worcester, Pem­broke and Northampton, to empower them to examine the Registers and other Monuments which pertained to that Order; and where any Passage should be found obsolete or obscure, to make it conspicuous and clear; where Contrariety appear'd, fitly to reconcile it; yet with no Design of innovating any Thing, but an Inten­tion of renewing all, as near as might be, to the first Standard and most ancient Institution of the Order; saving always Power to himself, as Sovereign of the Order, to add or diminish any Matter (according to the Occasion) as it should seem agreeable to his Pru­dence for the Honour of this Most Noble Order. What Progress they made in this Commission, the Memoirs of that Time are [...]silent in; but some few Years after, this Affair was reviv'd, and another was issu'd forth, to the Earls of Nottingham, Worc [...]ster, South­ampton, Arundel and Montgomery, and the Viscount Lisle, all Knights-Companions, dated April 26. in the 16th Year of his Reign; which Six, or any Four of them, were thereby constituted to take an exact Survey of all the ancient Statutes and Articles of the said Order; and authoriz'd to call before them all such Persons, whe­ther Officers of the said Order, or others, as could give any Light or Information concerning that Affair; and after a serious Deliberation, to pen down what in them they conceiv'd meet to be explain'd, and what to be added, whereby to render the Order more illustri­ous, that the same being presented to the Sovereign and the Society, at a Chapter holden, might be resolv'd on in part, or in all, to be put in Ex [...]cution, if it seem'd so good to that King.

THIS Affair mov'd very slowly; but towards the latter End of his Reign, the Earls of Worcester, Mont­gomery, Arundel, Surry and Le [...]cester, Five of the Six Commissioners above-nam'd, having held divers Con­ferences, and debated several Matters represented to them, and at a Chapter convened at Whitehall the 19th [Page 148] of May, Anno 20 Jac. I. did present to the Sovereign certain Articles, subscribed with their Hands, which, for the Honour of the Order, they thought requisite to be duly observ'd.

BY the first of which they made Provision for a fur­ther Progression and Advancement of the illustrious In­stitution, in proposing, that every Year a Commission from the Sovereign should be granted, or continu'd to such Knights of the Order as the Chapter should pitch on, to deliberate and weigh all Affairs that fell under the Order, and that the Year after, an Estimate, by the Knights in Chapter, should be exhibited, of their Re­solutions and Proceedings by Virtue of the said Com­mission. This, with Eight other Articles, were con­firm'd by the Sovereign and Twelve of the Knights-Companions, the 22d of May following, in a Chapter held at Whitehall; and so prosperously their Endeavours succeeded, that on the Feast-day of St. George, at Windsor in the ensuing Year, the Earl of Worcester, (being then the Sovereign-Deputy) with Ten Knights-Companions more, gave their assent to Eight other Articles (most of them concerning the Alms-Knights) which the Morning after had the Approbation of the Sovereign; and before the Celebration of Divine Service, by his Deputy and Companions assembled in the Chapter-House, the Observation thereof was duly decreed.

KING Charles I. design'd and endeavour'd the most compleat and absolute Reformation of any of his Pre­decessors; and at the Solemnity of St. George, held at Windsor the 6th of October, in the 6th Year of his Reign, He commission'd Nine Knights-Companions, viz. the Earls of Mulgrave, Pembroke, Montgomery, Arund [...]l, Surry, Salisbury, Carlisle, Dorset, Holland, Berkshire and Suffolk, with command to assemble Four Times in a Year, to take into their Consideration the Affairs of the Order; all which, but the Earls of Mulgrave and Dorset, met at Whitehall the 2d of January following, where some few Matters fell under their Consultation. This Commis­sion was seconded by one of a larger extent about Three Months after, and directed to the said Knights-Companions, or to any Eight, Seven, Six, Five or Four of them, empowering them to meet and devise, [Page 149] and exactly preponderate all the Statutes and Ordinan­ces of the Order, as well such as were established at the Foundation, as those that had been since made, by Explanation or Addition, and to weigh advisedly whe­ther any Thing had been enacted, that had caused Doubt or Ambiguity, or stood in need of any Change or Amendment; and if upon mature Deliberation by them thus conven'd, there should appear any Contrariety or Defect, for want of plain Expression, or other Omissi­on, fit to be supplied, tending to the Honour of the Order, That then the Sovereign might, upon Return of their Proceedings, resolve upon some general Decla­ration in Chapter, to reform and reduce into one Body all the Statutes and Ordinances thereof, that the same being compil'd and settled in one perfect Model, might be so consign'd to Posterity, free from all future Questi­ons and Doubts.

NEVER THELESS not any thing was done upon this Commission, tho' it stood in force even from the 6th to the 13th Year of this King's Reign; but where the Neglect lay History does not fully inform us, tho' it may be conjectur'd by what follows.

AT the Feast of St. G [...]orge, celebrated by Prorogation at White-hall, for the Year 1636. upon the 17th, 18th, and 19th Days of April, 1637. divers Petitions for Re­formation, and reducing of Matters to their pristine Constitution, were presented to the Sovereign by the Chancellor, and read; some of which, more especial­ly, tending to set off and encrease the Honour of the Order, were received and decreed by the Sovereign, and the rest referr'd to the said Knights-Commissioners. The first of those Decrees which at that time had its Sanction, was to revive and renew the Powers given in the former Commission; and thereupon a new one, dated the 7th of May following, was issued under the Great Seal of the Order, and directed to the Earls of Mulgrave, Darby, Pembroke, and Montgomery, Arundel, and Surry, Kelly, Salisbury, Dorset, Holland, Barkshire, Suffolk, Lyndsey, Exeter, Marquiss Hamilton, Duke of Lenox, the Earls of Darby, Moreton, and Northumberland, or to Three or more of them, to meet and consult of any Matters contain'd in the Statutes, or for Honour of [Page 150] the Order. These Knights-Commissioners were en­dow'd with all the plenary Powers given in the foresaid Commission, dated 6 Car. I. unto which was granted a further Addition, for the better effecting the Sovereign's Care: That Three or more of them should meet at the Sovereign's Court, and begin to put the said Com­mission in execution in Whitson Week next ensuing, at­tended and assisted by the Chancellor of the Order, and all, or any other Officers, or such of them as they should fix on, or find serviceable. And being assem­bled, to have free Liberty to hear, propound, and de­bate of whatsoever shall fall under their Cognisance, or that they should conceive conducible to the Honour and perfect Establishment of so Illustrious and Noble a Body. And to prepare all Matters of such their Re­solutions and Debates to be laid before the Sovereign at the next Feast of St. George, and so successively at e­very Chapter so appointed by him, to receive his full Determination, Approbation, and Royal Assent, with further Power to adjourn from time to time, after the first Opening and Reading of the said Commission; their Meetings to be in such Places, and on such Days as should seem most convenient to them.

NOW who wou'd suppose, that after so Noble an In­tention of the Sovereign, and his earnest Solicitude to issue forth a second Commission, his hearty recom­mending and exciting their Deligence for a speedy Dis­patch, and lastly, his expecting an Account of their Transactions the next Feast, these honourable Persons, Companions of the Order, should need a Spur to ac­complish so laudable a Design; but it was so.

FOR altho' the Commission was opened at White-hall the 30th of May following, in the Presence of the Earls of Pembroke and Montgomery, Salishury, Holland, Marquiss of Hamilton, and Duke of Lenox, Commissi­oners; yet Sir Thomas Row Chancellor, in his Letter to Dr. Christopher Wren, dated the 4th of June, 1637. sad­ly complained, That it was much as he could do to draw together Five of the Knights-Companions, to o­pen and read the Commission, and this quasi in [...]ransi [...], was in Confusion and Hurry, and all that was transacted was to appoint another Convention at Court in M [...]summer [Page 151] Week then next ensuing, and charge the Chan­cellor to prepare Matter (for Propositions and Observa­tions upon the Statutes) fit for their Consultations a­gainst that Appointment, according to the Tenor of the Commission. And in another Place writes, That he found such Difficulty to procure Meetings, and as cer­tain non Chalance in every one, as if it were but a cere­monious Affair, and so few hearty in it, that he feared he and the Officers should wait to little Purpose: And so indeed it fell out; for albeit he att [...]nded in Midsummer Week, according to their Direction, yet there was no­thing dispatch'd, save only the adjourning of their Meeting to London.

SOME little Progress was afterwards made in this Af­fair at White-hall the 8th of February following, where Three of them were present, viz. the Earls of B [...]rk­shire, Lindsey, and Northumberland, who order'd the Chancellor, Register, and Garter, to prepare an Abbre­viation of the Statutes, and reduce every thing of one Head into an Act, to keep up to Method, and avoid Confusion.

THE 1st of February after, another Assembly of Seven of the Knights-Commissioners was held at White-hall, in whose Presence a few Points were debated; but little or nothing concluded.

§ 4. As concerning the Annals of the Order, or the Books wherein the several Resolutions and Decrees oc­casionally made in Chapters, and wherein other histo­rical and ceremonial Matters relating to it are recorded, [...]t will not be amiss to give some Account of them in this Place.

THE first, in Order of time, is an old Paper Book written in French, call'd Registrum Chartaceum, hitherto fortunately preserv'd in the Paper Office at White-hall, which probably was b [...]gun by John Coningham; for we find him, 1414. (a little before the Annals commenced) made Canon of Windsor, and Register of the Or­der, and in regard the same Hand-Writing is carry'd on from the Beginning of the Book down to 16 Hen. VI. inclusive, where follows an Hi [...]tus till Anno 23 Hen. VI. that the Annals began to be set down with another [Page 152] Hand; and that he shortly after died in 1445. Hence­forward these Annals are entred with promiscuous Hands, which may be presumed the proper Hand-Writings of the Registers of this Noble Order, as they succeeded each other in the Office.

AFTER we find Richard Sidnor mention'd in the Register Anno 16 Hen. VIII. (who subscribed his Name at the foot of every Leaf) the Annals were pen'd in one Hand until Anno 26 Hen. VIII. that Robert A [...]drydge, D. D. and one of the Canons of Windsor succeeded him; and then 'tis evident the Writing also was changed to an old set Roman Hand, which ran on to the End of 29 Hen. VIII. in which Year he was advanced to the Bishoprick of Carlisle; and this Book breaks off in the 31st of his Reign.

BESIDES this there is another Book that goes by the Name of the Black Book, wherein the Annals of the Order are transcribed in Latin, concerning which there pass'd a Decree, Anno 3 Hen. VII. that it should be fairly copy'd out, and afterwards that the Sovereign should be put in Remembrance of it; but neither of these De­crees was put in execution, nor was this confirm'd till towards the End of the Reign of King Henry VIII. This Book differs very little from the Registrum Chartaceum, for therein is nothing enrolled relating to the Order (except one of the Exemplars of the Founders Statutes, and a Catalogue of the first Twenty-five Knights-Companions) before the 4th Year of King Henry V. the Annals of the Order, until that time, be­ing entirely lost. It hath the same Hiatus or Intervals from 16 to 23 Hen. VI. from 7 to 10 of Edw. 4. from 4 to 7 Hen. VII. and from 10 to 14 Hen. 7. It also runs parallel therewith for the most part, and that it was compil'd by Dr. Aldrydge, whilst he continu'd Register, is collected from some Passages in the Preface of all the Sovereigns, ending with King Henry VIII. The Tran­scription of this Book was finish'd Anno 13 Hen. VIII. for so far is written, as also the Appendix, with one and the same Hand; (in a middle-siz'd Text) but Anno [...]2 Hen. VIII. another Hand appears, which, with some Variation, is continu'd to the End of 5 Edw. VI. where this Book breaks off.

[Page 153] THE Register of the Order was oblig'd to provide Two Books, and therein to enter the Ordinances, Statutes, and Acts of this Noble Corporation, one to be lodg'd at the Chapter House at Windsor, and call'd, Index Windesoriensis, and the other being a Duplicate of the former, to remain in his own Custody, ready to expose to the View of the Sovereign, whensoever he should demand it; this latter was called Aulae Registrum.

AS to the general Directions for Compiling these Books, and the Particulars they are to consist of, we are inform'd from the said Statutes and Constitutions; for besides the Entry of all the Scrutinies taken in Chapter and Elections made thereupon, it is his Office to record the Penalties inflicted on Knights-Compa­nions, and the Reconciliation of all Delinquents with other Acts, and their Causes appertaining to the Order, all which are decreed to be recited before the Sove­reign and Knights-Companions at the Beginning of the Chapter yearly, if Occasion be, to correct and reduce into Method. Moreover he is to record all the Policies in War, Exploits, Transactions, and memorable Atchievements, both of the Sovereign and Knights-Companions, according as he can best attain the Know­ledge of them, by his own diligent Search, or the As­sistance of Mr. Garter, which having consign'd to Wri­ting from Year to Year, is to be perused at the next Chapter by the Knights-Companions, for their Appro­bation and Correction; and being reiterated the second time in the Chapter, he is to see that they be fairly en­grossed in the said Book, for a perpetual Remem­brance.

AND because the time perfix'd for Rehearsal of these Particulars in Chapter, had in succeeding Years been imploy'd in other Affairs. In one of those Articles which the Knights-Companions exhibited to King Jac. I. the 19th of May, Anno Jac. R. 20. and rati­fied the 22d of May following, it was decreed that no­thing of this Nature, or any other Act in Chapter, should be registred before it had been perus'd and pass'd the Consideration of the then Knights-Companions, or at least Four of them, who when they should set Times apart to consult of the Affairs of this Order (for which [Page 154] they were chiefly commission'd) might then also make Use of such Opportunities as should give this Business Dispatch with more Conveniency. Upon mature Consi­deration had of those Injunctions, the then Register at a Chapter held 19 Nov. 22 Car. II. presented the Conti­nuation of the Annals of this Order, which he had ranged in order to register in the Liber Carolinus, and submitted them to the Approbation of the Knights-Companions, whom the Sovereign had commission'd to inspect the Affairs of the Order; which Tender, when they declin'd, he propos'd that it might pass the Exa­mination of the Prelate; but they not giving the ir As­sent to it, in regard the Register himself was under the Obligation of an Oath, to deal with the utmost Fi­delity in his Reports, it was decreed, That the said Annals should be fairly recorded in the Book, without any further Inspection.

BESIDES the abovemention'd Particulars, there were Materials of another Nature, decreed to be collected by the Chancellor of the Order and Garter King of Arms, to be digested first, and after entred by the Re­gister; for whereas one part of the Chancellor's Duty was to make a Narration every Year in Chapter, at the Feast of St. George, of the illustrious Exploits of the Knights-Companions, as well as the Actions that tend to eclipse their Glory; so the Register was to note these, and record them from a perpetual Aera or Memorial of their Honour or Disgrace.

AND it is part of Garter's Duty diligently to enquire after the Valiant, Fortunate, and Renown'd Acts, both of the Sovereign and the rest of the Knights-Compani­ons, and relate them with all Exactness to the Register, for his Engrossing: But how sparingly these are put in execution, the Annals themselves bear witness. How­ever, Sir Edward Walker Garter-King has drawn up an Account of the shining Actions and Characters of the Knights-Companions, beginning with Thomas Earl of Strafford, and continuing it down to his Son, which he deliver'd Dr. Ryves the Register, for the Use afore­directed.

AMONG the Articles establish'd at the Feast of St. George, 21 Jac. I. the last is, That the then Register [Page 155] should compose a Book, wherein should be orderly tran­scribed the Form and Manner of all the Solemn [...]ties, Ce­remonies, and Processions, at the Celebration of the Or­der; as also of taking down and offering the defunct Knight's A [...]chievements, that the Knights-Companions might have free Recourse to it; but such Book never was extant.

For the Safety and Preservation of the Annals, the Knights-Commissioners determined the 22d of May, An. Jac. I. 20. That a secure and convenient Place within the Castle of Windsor should be appointed, in which all Acts concerning the Order should be reposed, and to which every Knight-Companion at all times might have access. And upon the Remove or Decease of the Register of the Order, the Book, containing the Account of all such Transactions, should be committed to one of the Knights of the Order.

The second of these Books is called the Blue Book, so call'd, being bound in Blue Velvet; it begins with the first Year of Queen Mary, and ends at the 18th of King Jac. I.

The third being bound in Red Velvet, is denominated the Red Book; it commences where the Blue Book leaves off, and treats of the like Acts and Entries, and is carry'd down to 14 Car. I. having first given a full Account of the Installation of the Prince, afterwards King Charles II. And as to great part of this Work, it was perform'd by the elegant and judicious Dr. Matthew Wren, Bishop of Ely, and Register of the Order, whose excellent Pattern his Brother and Successor Dr. Christopher W [...]en hath co­py'd in its following Tract. This Bishop compiled a MS. A. D. 1631. wherein, by way of Comment upon King Henry VIII's Statutes, he hath com [...]endiously shewn what Alteration there hath passed in the Law of the Garter, a Work performed with great Judgment, and exce [...]dingly useful to the Curious.

The fourth and last Book is, Liber Carolinus, and com­mences 1640. wherein the Annals are brought down to the beginning of 1670. by Ryves, then Register. And in a Chapter conven'd at Windsor the 16th of April, Anno 1 [...] Car. II. it was decreed, That there should be Two of these Books compiled, the one printed in Latin, in the Custos of the Register at Windsor; and the other in [Page 156] English, to be reserv'd at Whitehall, and call'd, Registrum Aulicum.

THE Habit and Ensigns of this most Noble Order are most eminently distinguishable and magnifi­cent, and consist of these Particulars, viz. Garter, Mantle, Surcoat, Hood, George, and Collar; for as the Romans were very exact and particular in assigning each Degree a peculiar Habit and Vesture, by which the Qua­lity and Rank of their Citizens might be discernable, the Distinction of Apparel was afterwards taken up by divers other Nations, whence every Military, as well as Eccle­siastick Order of Knighthood, did appropriate to it self a peculiar Dress, Ensign, or Badge, as a Mark of Distin­ction one from another, to set off the Lustre and Honour of their several Societies.

The four first, viz. the Garter, Mantle, Surcoar, and Hood, were assigned the Knights Companions, by the Founder, and the George and Collar by King Henry VIII. and all these together are called the whole Habit or En­signs of the Order, which we shall treat of succinctly, beginning with the Garter.

The Royal Garter challengeth the Preheminence, for from it this famous Order receiv'd its Denomination: It is the first part of the Habit presented to Foreign Princes [...]nd Absent Knights, and that wherewith they, and all other elect Knights, are first adorn'd; and of so great Honour and Grandeur, that by the bare Investiture with this Noble Ensign, the Knights are esteem'd Companions of the greatest Military Order in the World.

The Materials whereof it was compos'd at first, is an A [...]canum; nor is it described by any before Polydore Vi [...]gil, and he but in general: As to the ornamental Part of it, it was adorn'd with Gold and precious Stones, and had a Buckle of Gold at the End, to fasten it about

[Page]

[Page 157] the Leg; but there's no doubt but it was wrought with rich Embroidery, and the Motto rais'd with Gold, Pearl, and sundry Sorts of Silk, as may be guess'd from the Garters anciently plac'd on the left side of the Knights-Companions Mantles, and those other little embroider'd Garters, wherewith their Surcoats and Hoods were heretofore embellish'd.

BUT of those wrought in the last Age, we have more particular Satisfaction; for we find the Garter sent to Emanuel Duke of Savoy, Anno 1 and 2 Philip and Mary, was set with Letters of Goldsmith's Work, the Buckle and Pendant of the same, and on the Pendant a Ruby, and a Pearl hanging at the End. The Garter made for Francis II. Anno 6 Elizabeth, was richly wrought with Letters of Gold, set off and garnish'd with Stones, the Buckle and Pendant weighing Three Ounces and an half-quarter, was richly set with Rubies and Dia­monds. The French King Henry IV. had a Garter of Purple Velvet embroider'd with Letters of Gold, and deck'd out with Diamonds and Rubies. And the Gar­ter of Christian IV. King of Denmark, was embroider'd with Gold and Pearls: But that Garter sent to Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden, outvied all others conferr'd by former Sovereigns, each Letter of the Motto being compos'd of small Diamonds; and for every Stop, a Diamond within a Range of Diamonds, above and be­low, on the sides of the Garter, and besides other Dia­monds on the Buckle, and about the same, to the Num­ber in all of 411.

THE Garter which King Charles I. wore upon his Leg at the Time of his Martyrdom, had the Letters of the Motto compos'd likewise of Diamonds, which amount­ed to the Number of 412. It came to the Hands of Captain Preston (one of the Usurper's Captains) from whom the Trustees, for Sale of the King's Goods, re­ceiv'd it, and sold it to Ireton, sometimes Lord Mayor of London, for 205 l. But after the Restoration, the King's Attorney-General proceeding upon an Action of Trover and Conversion, Verdict was given for the King against him for 205 l. and 10 l. costs of Suits, in Trinity Term, 16 Car. II.

[Page 158] THE Motto of King Charles II. was set with Dia­monds upon Blue Velvet, and the Borders wrought with fine Gold Wire; the Diamonds which framed the Letters of the Motto, were Rose Diamonds, much of a Size or Proportion; but those which framed the Stops, Table-Diamonds; the Total which set each Let­ter, compos'd the Stops, Ilot Holes, and adorn'd the Buckle; the Table was Two Hundred and Fifty; the Hinge of the Buckle was pure Gold, and on it the So­vereign's Picture to the Breast, curiously cut in Flat­stitch, crown'd with a Laurel and the military Garb of the first Roman Emperors; the Table or Pendant was Gold, and on the back-side thereof engrav'd St. George on Horse-back encountring the Dragon.

THIS noble Ensign, the Garter, was at the Erection of the Order appointed to be wore on the left Leg, a little beneath the Knee, which Usage still presides: And the placing it thus, on the Sepulchral Portraictures of Knights-Companions, was an early Custom; for on the Alabaster Monument of Sir William Fitz-warin, who was interr'd in the North-side of the Chancel at Wan­tage in Com. Berks, 35 Edw. III. he lies there with his Surcoat of Arms upon his Breast, and the Representa­tion of a Garter (but without Motto) carv'd upon his left Leg. In the same Posture lies Sir Richard Pem­bridge, elected a Knight-Companion, temp. Edw. III. and is portraicted on his Monument in the South-side of the Cathedral of Hereford, below the Pulpit, and en­compass'd with a Rail of Iron-Spikes.

THE next Monument whereon the Garter was de­picted, was that erected for Sir Simon Burley, (beheaded A. D. 1388.) and rear'd in the North-Wall near the Choir of St. Paul's, London. Thence-forward the Pra­ctice became more frequent, and then the Motto began to be cut thereon; insomuch that it is now the con­stant and just Practice to do it, whensoever the Knights-Companions are exhibited in Effigies.

AND altho' this Ensign was first design'd in Orna­ment to the left Leg, yet it was not confin'd so solely thereto, but was anciently us'd to incircle the Escut­cheon of St. George's Arms, worn by the Sovereign and Knights-Companions on their Mantles, who within a [Page 159] small space after us'd it to surround their own proper Coat of Arms, which their Successors have retain'd as their peculiar Privilege, permitting it to none but to their principal Officer, the Prelate of the Order.

THE first Example that occurs, is the before-menti­on'd of Sir Francis Burley, where, on the Front, to­wards the Head, is his own Arms empaling his first Wife's, set within a Garter, (wanting the Impress;) but another having the same Empalement, (plac'd be­low the Feet) is surrounded with a Collar of SS. of the same Form with that about his Neck.

THE Monument also of Joan, Wife of Ralph Nevil, Earl of Westmoreland, on the South-side of the Choir, in the Cathedral of Lincoln, bears the Arms of Nevil, empaling those of Joan, his Wife, (who dy'd A. D. 1410.) Incircled within a Garter, and fix'd on this Lady's Monument, Daughter to John of Gount, Duke of Lancaster, is there such a Collar of SS. placed about a Square; but the Paint being faded, was render'd un­intelligible.

ANOTHER antique Instance is that Escutcheon, Sable, Three Ostrich Feathers Argent, surrounded with the Gar­ter, affix'd in the Glass-Windows of Greenwich-Church in Kent, by Humfrey, Duke of Glocester, and supported with a Greyhound and an Antelope. It is reported, these Three Feathers were the Ensign of King Henry IV. which were conferr'd by John of Gaunt, his Father, who bore them for his Device, and placed in a Field Sable, as here, but the Pens were powder'd with Ermin, for a difference from the Black Prince's Feather, which were Argent, as the King's Pen was Or, and the Duke of Somerset's Compony Argent and Azure.

THE Arms of Sir L [...]wis Robessart, Lord Bourchier, Knight-Companion, t [...]mp. [...]en. V. we find encompass'd with a Garter on each side his Monument, in Westmin­sier-Abbey.

AT the Interment of Richard Duke of York, Father to King Edw. IV. at every Corner of the Majesty-Es­cutcheon (set over the Image of the D [...]sunct) was an Es [...]utcheon of the Arms of France and [...]gland quart [...]rly, and [...]our A [...]gels Gold, holding the same within a Garter. And so some of the Funeral Es [...]utch [...]ons of John Viscount [Page 160] Wells, (who dy'd 14 Hen. VII.) were surrounded with the Garter, as others bearing his Lady's Arms.

AT the Interment of Thomas Duke of Norfolk, in Thet­ford-Abbey, (who dy'd 16 Hen. VIII.) there was pro­vided a Shield of his Arms within a Garter, and a Coronet affix'd over it; a Target also of the Arms of George, Earl of Shrewsbury, within a Garter, was born at his Funural, Anno 33 Hen. VIII.

IT was the Custom, (begun about the Reign of Hen. VII.) when the Obsequies of any Foreign Prince were celebrated in England, to paint an Escutcheon of such Prince's Arms within the Collar of the Order, whereof he was Sovereign or a Fellow-Companion; as those of the French King, Charles VIII. celebrated at St. Paul's, London, had Escutcheons of the Arms of France, within the Collar of the Order of St. Michael, at each End of the Hearse; and when the Obsequies of John King of Portugal were solemniz'd at St. Paul's, there was, among others, one large Escutcheon of his Arms within the Collar of the Golden Fleece. The Fu­neral Rites of the Emperor Charles V. being perform'd in Westminster-Abbey, 22 and 23 Dec. 1558. there were Ten great Escutcheons compass'd with Garters, to shew he was a Fellow of this Order: And upon the same Account, where Princes were Sovereigns of one, and Companions of another Order, their Hearses were hung with Escutcheons of their Arms, surrounded with the Collars or principal Badges of both those Orders; as at the Interment of Francis I. the French King, cele­brated at St. Paul's, London, 1 Edw. VI. the Escutcheons were the Arms of France, encompass'd within the Gar­ter of St. George, and Collar of St. Michael. At the Ob­sequies of Hen. II. of France, Anno 1 Eliz. at St. Paul's also, there were some Escutcheons of his Arms, incir­cled both with the Garter and Collar of the Golden Fleece, having been a Knight-Companion of both these Orders: Under the Joysts was a Majesty Escutcheon of Black Taffaty of this King's Arms, within a Garter crown'd with an Imperial Crown, and in several Places of the Hearse were fasten'd other Escutcheons of his Arms within this principal Ensign of the Garter.

[Page 157] KING Hen. VIII. was the first that introduc'd into his Great S [...]al the Eschutcheon of his Arms incircled with­in a Garter, as may be seen placed on either side his Portraicture si [...]ting on his Royal Throne; since him, all succeeding Sovereigns have born their Arms after that Manner. not only in their great and Privy-Seals, but in those other appertaining to their Courts of Ju­stice, and generally in all Matters where their Arms were visible (except Coins); in Imitation of whom, the Knight-Companions have don [...] the like.

BUT there were An. 21 Car. 1. certain Half Crowns stamp'd in the West of En [...]and, containing the Sove­reigns Arms, so encompassed, regally crowned and supported; and this was the first Money whereon the Royal Garter appeared. After him King Charles II. having an Eye to the Advancement of the Honour of this Order, caused the irradicated Cross of St. George en­compass'd about with the Royal Garter to be publickly stamp'd in the Center of his Silver Coin, struck upon the Recoinage of it, A [...]no 14. Car. 2.

THERE were other Medals heretofore stamp'd upon several Occasions, wherein the G [...]rter was designedly express'd, and enclosing Shields of their Arms; as that in the Year 1619. Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine, was crowned King of [...]o [...]em [...]a, and Robert Cecil Earl of Salisbury created Lord Treasurer, both Knights Compa­nions of this Noble Order: Moreover, Gold Rings have been cast into the Figures of Garters; the Ground on the outside enamell'd with a deep Blue, through which the golden Letters of the Motto appearing, set them off with an admirable Beauty. And it seems such Rings were in vogue since the Preface to the black Book of the Order makes mention of wearing the Garter on the Leg and Shoulder, and sometimes likewise sub­o ins the Thumb, interdum Pollice gestare; by which we may naturally conjecture, that Gold Rings were formed into the Fashion of Garters, and bestowed by some new installed Knights upon their Relations and Friends to wear in Memorial of so great an Honour conferred up­on them.

AMONG the Officers belonging to the Order the Pre­late is permitted to bear h [...]s proper Arms (impaled with [Page 158] those of his See) within the Garter, and the rest only to wear the Badges of their Offices, surrounded with the same to express their peculiar Relation.

BESIDES the Manner of bearing Arms, within the Gar­ter of this Order, the Garter either in whole or part, hath been by Way of Armory, but without the Motto; as in the Seal belonging to the Office of Garter King of Arms, where the Garter (enclosing a Crown) is placed on a Chief, between a Lyon of England and a Flower de Lys of France. And to instance in Family, we find Argent Three Demy-Garters Azure, buckled and garnished, Or, granted by King Hen. VII. to his Servant Peter Nerborne, and sable a Garter, Or, between Three Buckles of the Second, to be born by Buckland or Bowland in Com. Northampton.

§. 2. THE second Ensign of the Order is the Mantle, which is the Chief of those Vestments which the Sove­reign and Knights-Companions make use of upon all solemn Occasions relating to the Order. That this Pattern was derived to us from the ancient Greeks and Romans, is not at all to be disputed, since it so little va­ries in Fashion from their Pallium or Toga; for the Gre­cian Pallium was a sort of long Cloak, which only wanted a Collar or Cape, and the Roman Toga as pro­per to them, as the Pallium to the Grecians, and the Custom as Antique as Romulus himself; for he is recited by Plutarch to have worn it. The Pallium is more fully described to be a kind of upper Robe that covered the whole Body, made fast on the right Shoulder with a Fibula or Clasp. It was usually worn over the Tunica or short Coat, whence the Proverb Tunica Pallio propior, and is more particularly observed to have been a Gar­ment fashioned without Sleeves, that reached down to the Ancles.

IN describing this upper Robe, called the Mantle, (the Sovereigns being distinguished from the Knights-Companions, only by a long Train) we shall first set down its various Appellations it is mentioned by in the Records of the Order; Secondly, the Materials where­of it consists; Thirdly, the Colour; Fourthly, the Quantity; and last of all the Ornamental Trimmings, that nothing be omitted to satisfy any curious Enquirer.

§. 3. The Third Ensign of the Order is the Surcoat or Kirtle, which altho' we find no Place for it in the Founder's Statutes, is nevertheless as ancient as the Man­tle or upper Robe, that is only taken Notice of there, for such a Vesture King Edward III. then made, to­gether with his Mantle and a Hood to celebrate the first Feast of the Order in.

ITS Original it owes to the Greeks and Romans; a­mongst whom this Garment had its determinated Tu­nica, and was worn next under the Toga, but amongst them was both narrower and shorter; it was girt close to the Body with a Girdle, and so fitted, that the Hem of it reached a little below the Knee, or to the middle of the Ham. It was the proper Mode of the Roman Citi­zens, and by its trimming were the three Degrees among them known; for the Senators Tunicks were embroi­dered or purfled over with broad purple Studs, the Knights with narrow ones, and the Plebeians plain.

IN setting forth the Surcoat, which was heretofore annually bestowed by the Sovereign or the Knights-Companions, and therefore called his Livery, we shall, as in the Description of the Mantle, treat somewhat of the Name, Materials, Colour, Quantity and Garnish­ing of it.

AS to the Name in the old Rolls of the great Ward­robe, it is stiled Roba, but more properly as the Founder's first Surcoat is called Tunica, which Name it bears in the red Book of the Order. In English it is ren­dred Gown, Kirtle, Surcoat, Undercoat and Robe. The Appellation of Gown is attributed to Surcoats of the So­vereigns and Foreign Princes, Temp. Hen. VI. Edw. IV. and Hen. VII. But since, and very lately, it hath been bestowed also on the Surcoats of Knights-Companions; and that of Kirtle sometimes given to those sent to Foreign [Page 164] Princes, as appears by the Books of Warrants in the great Wardrobe, but the rest are Terms of a later Date: As the first Mantles, so the first Surcoats were composed of Woollen Cloth, and tho' the Cloth of the Mantles was in some space after changed for Velvet, yet the Surcoats continued afterwards to be of Cloth, at least till after the Office of Chancellor of the Garter was erected by King Edward IV. as is manifest by the Precedent of this Livery in the Sovereigns great Ward­robe; but in process of Time they became Velvet, which sort of Silk is yet retained.

THE Colour of this Vesture was anciently changed every Year, commonly into Blue, Scarlet, Sanguine in Grain, or White. But the Colour of the Mantles re­mained the same as at the Institution, until Queen [...]li­zabeth's Reign, and then it commenced Blue: And 'tis remarkable, that the Surcoats of the Knights-Compani­ons, were always of the same Colour with the Sove­reigns.

THE Founder's first Surcoat was of the same Cloth and Colour with the Mantle, viz. Blue, but in the 34th Year of his Reign he altered it to Black, and of the same Colour were those he conferred that Year upon th [...]se following Knights-Companions, viz. the B [...]ack Prince, the Earls of Ulster, Richmond and Sali [...]bury, Edmund of [...]angly, Sir Richard la Vacle, Sir [...]ugh Wrot [...]sly, Sir Reginald Cobham, Sir Bartholomew Burghest, the Lord Mohun, Sir Wal [...]er Manney, Sir N [...]le Loring, Sir Walter Pavel [...]y, Sir William Fitz Warin, Sir Miles Stapleton, the Earls of Stafford, Warwick and Suffolk, and Sir Thomas Ughtred: The Motive that induced him to pitch upon this [...]able Colour, was conceived to be a kind of Humiliation, because the Pestilence began again to spread its Male­volence, which had furiously raged Eleven Years be­fore. The Surcoats which the Sovereign gave the Dukes of Lancasier and [...] and Fourteen other Knights, Anno 37. Edward III. were of Cloth, Sanguine in Grain. Those Twenty four provided for the Feast of St. George, Anno 7 Ru [...]ard II. were Violet in Grain, whereof one was for the Sovereign, the other Twenty three for the Knights-Companions, following John King [...]f Castile, and Leonard Duke of Lancas [...]er, the Earls of [Page 165] Cambridge, Buckingham, Derby, Kent, Warwick, Stafford, Salisbury, Northumberland and Nottingham, the Lords Nevil, Basset, and John Holland, Sir Guy Bryan, Sir Wil­liam Beauchamp, Sir Thomas Percy, Sir Nele Loring, Sir John Sulby, Sir Lodowick Clifford, Sir Simon Burl [...]y, Sir Richard Burley, Sir Bryan Stapleton and Sir Soldan de la Trane.

Anno 11 Richard II. there were ordered against St. George's Feast Twenty three Surcoats of white Cloth for the Sovereign, and Twenty two Knights-Companions; and the 12 and 19 Year of the same King, the Sove­reign bestowed on the same Persons Surcoats of long blue Cloth, after the Original Model. The Twenty two Surcoats made up for the Feast of St. G [...]orge, Anno 1 Henry V. were of white Cloth; Anno—Henry VI. the Sovereigns Gown or Surcoat was of Scarlet, as was that sent to the King of Portugal in the 13th Year of the same King. Anno—Henry VI. the Sovereign had white Cloth; and so were the Surcoats given to Twenty Knights-Companions more in the—Year of his Reign. Afterwards the beforementioned Four Colours began to be disused, for the Surcoat presented to Julian de Medi­cis, temp. Edward IV. was purple Velvet, and towards the latter end of the Reign of King Henry VIII. and since, it is upon Record, the Surcoats of the Sovereign and all the Knights-Companions were Crimson Velvet, nor did the Colour suffer a Mutation in the Surcoat, tho' King Charles I. restored the Mantle to its first pri­mitive Colour, Anno 12 Regni sui.

THERE has been some disproportion in the Quan­tity of the Cloth allowed in the Provision against one and the same Feast, for Anno 34 Edward III. the Earls of Stafford, Warwick and Suffolk, as also Sir Thomas Ughtred had then for each of their Surcoats fix Ells of Cloth (perhaps the tallness of their Stature required it) when the other Fifteen Knights were allowed but five Ells, being the same Quantity the Sovereign's Surcoat had contained in it at the same time.

THE Dukes of Holland and Clarence, Anno 1 Henry V. with the Earls of Arundel, were allowed Eight Ells a­piece, the Dukes of Bedford, Gloucester and York, the Earls of Westmorland and Warwick, the Lords Grey, [Page 166] Fitz Hugh and Roos, six Ells apiece; the Earls of Dorset [...] with six Barons and five Knights Batchelors, but five Ells apiece. Afterwards, when the Number of Ells of Cloth, Garters and Furrs came to be ascertained for each Degree, all the Knights-Companions (even the Pri [...]ce of Wales) were not to exceed five Ells: But since Vel­vet came in Plea, the Allowance for Surcoat and Hood hath been eighteen Yards, when the Surcoat reached down to the Feet; but now it being the Fashion to wear if shorter, the Allowance is stinted to Ten. The Length of King Charles II's Surcoat was one Yard and an half, and of the Sleeve one Yard wanting a Nail.

THE Ornamental Trimmings of these Garments are next worthy of Note, especially at the Time of Insti­tuting this Order, for they were then, and a long time after, powdered all over with little Garters, embroi­dered with Silk and Gold-Plate, in each of which was neatly wrought the Motto, Honi soit, &c. Besides, the Buckles and Pendants to those small Garters, were Silver gilt; of these Garters there were no less than 160 upon the first Surcoat and Hood made for the Founder.

IN King Richard II's Reign, the little Garters that a­dorned the Surcoats of the Sovereign, and the other Knights were wrought in Embroidery upon blue Taffa­ty with Cyprus, and Soldat Gold and Silk of divers Colours, and the Letters Gold. And as the Sovereign was not limited in the Proportion of Cloth or Velvet for his Surcoat, no more was he confined to the Num­ber of Garters, wherewith to adorn it; nor do I find that any of the Knights-Companions were, until the Precedent of the Livery of the Garter was settled, for Anno 1 Henry V. the Dukes of Holland and Claren [...], the Earl of Arundel, the Dukes of Bedford and Gloucester had each of their Surcoats adorned with 120 Garters, but the Duke of York and the rest wore but 100. The Settlement in the Precedent of the Livery was, in re­lation to Degrees of Honour, a greater or less Number of Garters: Thus,

[Page 167]

ABOUT the Reign of King Henry VI. the Sovereigns Number of Garters did not much exceed those which the Founder allow'd to himself at the Institution; for the Surcoat and Hood of the said King consisted of 173; and the King of Portugal, Anno 13 Henry VI. 120 Garters. But this Drapery of their Robes became at length quite obsolete, perhaps when Cloth was altered to Velvet, and the plain Surcoat hath to this Day continued in Use.

WHILE these Surcoats remained of Cloth, they were lined with Bellies of pure Minever Fur, only the Sovereigns was purfled with Ermin; and of these, it seems, a like Proportion was at first stated to all the Knights-Companions, viz. 200 Bellies. Yet in the Reign of King Richard II. some Difference began in the Allowance to the Knights-Companions, for a Baron, and all Degrees upward had 200 Bellies; but under a Ba­ron 120 only. However, Anno 1. Henry V. the Barons were tantamount to the Knights-Batchelors, for all De­grees above a Baron were allow'd, a Fur of 200 Bellies. But the Barons and Knights-Batchelors Furs were on­ly 120 Bellies.

AFTERWARDS, by the Precedent of the Garter, there was another Proportion limited, the Prince, a Duke, a Marquis, an Earl, had each of them Five Timber of pure Minever allowed to a Surcoat; but the Viscount, Baron, Baronet and Batchelor-Knights but Three Timber apiece. In time these Furs were disused, and the Surcoats came to be lined with white Sarcenet, to which, temp. Eliz. white Taffaty succ [...]eded, and that still continues.

WHAT became of the old Surcoats, since the Knights-Companions had new ones every Year, the Black Book of the Order informs us, That on the Eve of the Feast [Page 168] of St. George, the Knights wore to Vespers, the Sove­reigns Livery or Surcoats, used by them the preceding Year, which after that Night they threw off, (for the new Surcoats were worn on the Feast-Day); but the Ensigns and Ornaments of this Kind were disposed of to the Use of the Colledge.

THE Hood and Cap comes in the next Place to be spoken of, which Hood in King, Henry VIII's Statu­tes, and the Black Book of the Order is called Hu­merale; but in the Rolls of the Great Wardrobe, Capu­cium. In the French it is Chaperon, a Word used in the Statute, Anno 1. Richard II. C. 7. and also retained in the Old English Copy of Henry VIII's Statutes made of his Reign, and annexed to this Treatise. They were anciently wore for Defence of the Head against the In­clemencies of Weather, but of later Times Caps and Hats have supplied their place. How they sat upon the Head, may be observed in the Portraitures of the first Founders; as also with some Variety of Fashion in suc­ceeding Ages: Yet is not the Hood quite thrown by, since 'tis still kept reclining upon the Back, almost like a Pilgrim's Hat.

THIS Hood was ordained, and is yet retained as part of the Habit of this most Noble Order. And tho' neither it nor the Surcoat is mentioned in the Statutes of Institution, or in either its Exemplars, nor doth King Henry V. lay any Stress upon it, yet it is of equal Antiquity with the rest, as appears from the Rolls of the great Wardrobe, and Henry VIII's Statutes have made re­markable Observation of it, for the Mantle, Surcoat, Hood, and Collar are called the Habit of the Order: And in the Black Book, Anno 22. Henry VII. at the Investiture of Philip King of Castile, the Mantle, Kirtle, Hood and Collar are expresly called Whole Habit.

IT was heretofore, and now is generally made of the same Materials as the Surcoat, and was anciently trim­med and set off with a small Proportion of Garters lined with Cloth of a different Colour, and such as would best strike the Sight; but now with Taffaty, as is the Lining of the Surcoat.

AS to the Cap, which was instituted to succeed the Hood; it hath been, and yet is, fashioned of black [Page 169] Velvet lin'd with Taffaty; but the Figure hath several Times varied; for Temp. Henry VIII. it was flat, in Queen Elizabeth's Reign it was a little raised in the Head; but in King James's Time they were much more high-crown'd. This Cap hath been usually adorn'd with Plumes of White Feathers, and Spriggs, and bound a­bout with a Band set thick with Diamonds; so was the Cap for the Installation of King Charles II. and sometimes the Brims have been tack'd up with a large and costly Jewel.

THIS Custom of wearing Caps and Feathers at the Grand Solemnities of the Order, had, for some Time, about the Beginning of King James I. Reign, been omitted, and thereupon, in a Chapter held the 13th of April, Anno 10. Jac. I. this commendable Custom was re-establish'd.

To these may be added the Cross of the Order en­compass'd with a Garter, which by the Sovereign was ordain'd the 27th of April, 2 Car. I. to be worn upon the Left Side of the Cloaks, Coats, and riding Cassocks of the Sovereigns and Knights-Companions, of the Prelate and Chancellor at all Times, when they were not adorn'd with their Robes, and in all Places and Assemblies (but not embellish'd with Pearls and Stones) that the wearing thereof might be a sufficient Indication to the World, of that Height of Honour they arriv'd to from the said most Noble Order, instituted for Persons of the greatest Merit and Worth.

AND it was not long after e'er the Glory or Star, as it was usually call'd, having certain Beams of Silver, that shot out in Form of a Cross, was introduc'd and annex'd to it, in Imitation (as thought) of the French, who after the same manner wore the chief Ensign of the Order of the Holy Ghost, being the Representation of a Dove irradiated with such like Beams.

AND whereas some Painters affirm the Symbol of the Holy Ghost to be thus adorn'd congruous enough, yet censure it improper for a Garter, let them consider that King Edw. IV. erected his White Rose with the like Glory, whereof both the Stone Work and Wood Work of St. George's Chapel in Windsor, manifestly illustrate, whose Antiquity makes a Precedent for it long before [Page 170] the Institution of the Order of the Holy Ghost; but this King assum'd this Device upon appearance of three Suns, which suddenly united together into one immediately, before his successful Victory at Mortimer's-Cross, a happy Aera he thought himself oblig'd to perpetuate. And they mistake who suppose it to be the Garter that is thus irradiated, whereas it is something else more worthy of the Glory, for from it, not the Garter, do the Rays diffuse, viz. the inclos'd Cross of the Order, cele­brated as glorious, since it darted its bright Beams from Heaven, when it appear'd to Constantine the Great; as the same is represented on a Silver Medal: On the one Side whereof was a Bust in profile, or side Face of King Charles I. and on the Reverse, this Badge of the Order, within a Garter, inscrib'd, Honi, &c. a Cross irradiated, dispersing its Beams in a Rhombular Form of Eight Angles, beyond the Orbit or bounding Lines of the said Garter, having for Circumscription, Prisci decus Ordmis Auctum, 1629.

§ 5. HAVING finish'd our Discourse concerning the Robes of the Order, we shall speak of the robes and Hoods assign'd to the Queen, Knights-Companions Wives, and other great Ladies, by the Donation of the Sovereigns, set off and embellished with Minute Gar­ters, and lin'd with Rich Furs, which Robes they were adorn'd with during the Solemnity of the Feast of St. George, a Custom almost as ancient as its Institution. The first Mention we find recorded of the Feminine Habit occurs, Anno 7. R. II. when the Queen, the Sovereign's Mother, the Dutchess of Lancaster, the Countesses of Cambridge, Buckingham, Pembroke, Oxford, and Salisbury, the Ladies Philippa and Catherine, Daughters to the Duke of Lancaster, and the Lady Mohun had such kind of Robes and Hoods provided for them. They were made of Cloth, Violet in Grain, like as the Sovereign and Knights-Companions that Year, the Robes lin'd with Fur, but the Hoods with Scarlet, and both embroidered over with little Garters, and the Proportion of Cloth, Furs, and Garters, were stated according to their several Ranks and Degrees; for the Queen had Eight Ells, and Half an Ell of [Page 171] Scarlet for the Lining of her Hood. The Sovereign's Mother had allow'd her one whole Piece, and a double Proportion of Scarlet; but from the large Quantity it is conceiv'd she had Two Robes and Hoods made at this time: Besides, the particular Number are but Eleven Persons, and cannot else reach the Total of the Robes that were made up and expresly set down to be Twelve. The Dutchess of Lancaster had the Allowance of Half a Piece, and Half an Ell of Scarlet; the Countess of Cambridge Seven Ells of Cloth and Half an Ell of Scarlet, and the rest of the Ladies the same Proportion of Cloth with the Knights-Companions, i. e. each Five Ells a-piece, and Half an Ell of Scarlet. According to their Cloth was also their Proportion of Minever; the Queen's Allowance was Two Furs, each containing Three Hundred Bellies of pure Minever; the Sove­reign's Mother had twice that Proportion, the Dutchess of Lancaster, and Countess of Cambridge had the same Allowance as the Queen; but all the rest of the Ladies had only one Fur of Two Hundred Bellies. Besides the embroidered Garters to deck out the Twenty-four Surcoats of the Sovereign and Knights-Companions, and the Twelve Robes for the Queen, and other Ladies, amounted to the Number of 2900.

AGAINST the Feast of St. George, Anno. II. R. II. there were prepared Fifteen Robes and Hoods for the Queen and other Ladies, of the same Livery and suit with the Sovereign and Knights-Companions, viz. White long Cloth, and Blue Cloth for the Lining of their Hoods, bearing the same Proportion in all Things as the former, Anno 13. Rich. II. the Ladies Robes and Hoods were Sanguine Cloth, and the Lining of their Hoods Cloth in Grain. And in the 19th Rich. II. they were Blue Cloth, and long Cloth in Grain for Lining their Hoods. In both these Years we find the Dutchess of Aquitaine had double the Proportion of Cloth allow'd her (as had also the Dutchess of York) viz. Fourteen Ells, (the Queen having then but the former Allowance of Eight Ells) and yet her Proportion of Lining, both for the Robe and Hood, was no more than allow'd the Queen.

[Page 172] BUT Anno 1 Henry V. the same Quantities of Cloth, Minevers, and Garters, were the same to Ladies of all Degrees, and that was to each Five Ells of White Woollen Cloth, only the Queen-Mother had Eight Ells of White Cloth and Eight Ells of Black Cloth, a Fee containing Two Hundred Bellies of Minever, and an Hundred embroidered Garters, and 12 Henry VI. the Master of the great Wardrobe was commanded to make ready the like Livery, both for Colour of Cloth, number of Ells, Bellies of Minever, and Garters, for the Countess of Suffolk, against the approaching Feast of St. George.

A plainer Narrative is made of these Liveries, Anno 16 Edw. IV. when at the Feast of St. George at Windesor, the Queen, the Lady Elizabeth, the King's Daughter, and Dutchess of Suffolk, the King's Sister, had for their Livery Murrey Gowns embroidered with Garters.

BESIDES these Robes worn by the Ladies at the Fe­stivals of the Order, there seems to be some Imitation of wearing a Garter also on their Left Arms, as the Knights did on their Left Leg, as it is observ'd on the Countess of Tankervile's Monument, where she is so pourtray'd.

AFTER a long Disuse of these Robes, Anno 14 Car. I. there was an endeavour to restore it; for the Deputy Chancellor sollicited the Sovereign in Chapter, That the Ladies of the Knights-Companions might be granted the Privilege to wear a Garter of the Order a­bout their Arms, and an upper Robe at Festival Times, according to ancient Usage, upon which Motion the Sovereign gave Order that the Queen's Pleasure should be known herein, and the Affair left to the Ladies particular Request, and the Year ensuing, upon the Deputy Chancellor's Report at another Chapter at Windesor, it was then left to a Chapter to be called by the Knights-Companions, to preponderate of every Circumstance, how it were fittest to be effected for the Honour and Lustre of the Order; which was ap­pointed to be held at London about All-hollantide next; But the unhappy War breaking out, this Matter en­tirely broke off.

§ 6. THERE remains now the Collar and George, brought in by King Henry VIII. And first, of Collars in general, which is an Ornament not of late, but ancient Invention, and the wonderful Consent of most Nations plead for it: Sacred Writ sets down the Collar of Gold for one of the Ornaments Pharaoh conferr'd upon Joseph. The Images of Isis and Osiris were represented with such like Collars, in a manner, extending to their Shoulders, as Kircher informs us. Their Workmanship seems won­derfully curious, being intersected with various Lines, and divided with Tablets and precious Stones. The Collar was of an illustrious Original among the Romans, and gave Denomination to the Family of Torquati, de­scended from L. Manlius, whom the Soldiers surnam'd Torquatus, because he fought with a Champion of the Gauls, Anno V. C. 392. and, having foil'd him in fight, cut off his Head, and then pluck'd off his Collar, bloody as it was, and put it about his own Neck. In further Memory of which Action were found several Roman Coins referring to L. Torquatus, Consul with L. Cotta, Anno V. C. 688. And it's remarkable that when one of another Tribe was adopted into this Fa­mily, he did also assume this Badge of Honour, as in the Coin of D. Junius Silanus, tho' the Fashion of the Work some what differ'd from the former.

IN pristine Times none but Kings and Princes wore Collars, and therefore their Use seems of Dignity and Power, as is evident from Daniel, where the Assyrian Kings used this Ornament. Afterwards Men famous for Wisdom and Council, had them as a distinguishing Badge, as in the Example of Joseph, and from the Pro­clamation of Belshazzar King of Babylon, who proposed it as a Praemium to him that could interpret the Hand-Writing upon the Wall. And Men famous for Milita­ry Atchievements had it conferr'd upon them, in Re­compence of their Merits; thus Collars were of the Number of the Dona & Praemia Militaria among the the Romans, and the Honour of receiving them thought wor­thy to be consign'd to Posterity in Marble Inscriptions. From them the later Emperors receiv'd it, and we read of investing a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre with a [Page 174] Collar at his Creation; where, as soon as the Ceremony of his Ordination is over, the Padre Guardian Kisses the new Made Knight, and puts about his Neck (according to the mode of the Ancients) a Golden Collar, with a Cross hanging at it.

MOST aptly therefore have the Sovereigns of Military Orders annex'd this Ornament of the Collar to their Habit, and conferr'd it on the Fellows and Companions, many of whom have meritoriously deserv'd it for their great Wisdom and valorous Exploits, and for this rea­son it was instituted in additional Glory to the Ensigns of the Garter, compos'd in a peculiar manner, in Rela­tion to the Name and Title; to the wearing of which the Sovereign oblig'd both himself and Knights-Com­panions, and his and their Successors.

THIS Collar was ordain'd to be of Gold Thirty Ounces Troy weight, but not to exceed it; howbeit that Collar sent to Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, weigh'd Thirty-four Ounces and a Quarter, and that of King Charles I. 35 Ounces and an Half; which, after his Sufferings, fell into the Hands of Thomas Harrison, one of Oliver's Major-Generals, and was by him deli­vered to the Trustees for Sale of the King's Goods: They, 1649. sent it to the Mint, with divers of the Regalia, to set the Stamp on work for the first Gold that the upstart Com [...]on-wealth coin'd.

IT was appointed by King Henry VIII's Statutes, that this Collar should be compos'd of Pieces of Gold in Fashion of Garters, the Ground enamelled Blue, and the Letters of the Motto Gold; in the midst of each Garter, Two Roses plac'd, the innermost enamei­led Red, and the outermost White, contrarily in the next Garter, the innermost Rose enamelled White, and the outermost Red, and so alternately; but of lat [...]r Times these Roses are wholly Red.

THE Number of these Garters are so many as be the ordain'd Number of the Sovereign and Knights-Com­panions; at the Institution they were Twenty-six, be­ing fasten'd together with as many Knots of Gold, and this Mode hitherto has continu'd invariable; nor ought the Collar to be adorn'd or enrich'd with pre­cious Stones, (as the George may be) such being prohi­bited by the Law of the Order.

[Page 175] AT the Middle of the Collar before pendant, at the Table of one of the Garters in the Collar is to be fix'd the Image of St. George arm'd sitting on Horseback, who having thrown the Dragon on his Back encounters him with a Tilting-Spear. This Jewel is not encompass'd with a Garter or Row of Diamonds, as in the lesser George; but in round Relief. It is allow'd to be beauti­fied and sett off with Diamonds and other Enrichments, at the Pleasure of the Knight-Companion who possessed it, and upon that Score it hath been frequently adorn'd with Variety of costly Work, whereon the Diamonds, and other precious Stones, being set to that Advantage as might, upon its Motion and Agitation, dart forth a resplendent Lustre.

BEFORE the Establishment of this Article by King Henry VIII. it appears that the Knights-Companions were invested with Collars at their Installations, for the Black Book makes mention of a Collar among the Ensigns of the Garter, wherewith Philip King of Castile was invested, Anno 22 Henry VII. but whether a Collar of SS's, or of another Model, is not specifi'd: Neverthe­less this Scruple is in part clear'd up by an old Memo­rial of the Ceremonies, at the Creating Henry Lord Stafford Earl of Wiltshire, 1 Henry VIII. where it is said in the Annals, that after he was invested with the Robes of his State and Dignity, the Collar of the Garter was put about his Neck at constituting him a Knight of the Order. And to make it more conspicuous in a Vellum Book of the Statutes sent to Maximilian the Emperor, sign'd 1508. by the Register T. Rowthale, and in another of Edward Stanley Lord Monteagle, elected ann. 6. Hen. VIII. the Forty First Article, enjoins a Collar to be worn by each Knight-Companion expresly called the Collar of the Order, which tho' it be not in all Respects consentient to that prescribed by King Henry VIII's Sta­tutes, yet there is not much Variation, and 'tis reported to be a Gold Collar coupled together by several Pieces of Links, in Fashion of Garters, with a Vermilion Rose, and the Image of St. George hung thereat. The Reason of the Knights-Companions wearing it at the Times appointed, the License for putting it to mending, the Command not [Page 176] to enrich the Collar, but the George only; and under a Penalty not to sell, pawn or alienate it upon any Necessity whatsoever, are wholly the same as was afterwards en­joyn'd by King Henry VIII. So that he did but only annex to his Body of Statutes a Decree, which for the greatest part had been put in practise before. In the 11th Hen. VIII. upon Interpretation of the Eleventh Article of the Statutes, the Collar is there enumerated as part of the entire Robes that a Knight-Companion is oblig'd to wear, for a more convincing Proof, That the Collar of Garters was used before King Henry VIII's Reign, the Monument of Sir Giles Daubeny plainly De­lineates (who departed 22 Henry VII.) in Westminster-Abbey, where his Portraicture in the Robes of the Or­der is adorned with such a Collar as King Henry VIII's Statutes do afterwards describe.

AS the Garter sent to Gustavus Adolphus King of Swed [...]n, so the great George (pendant at his Collar weighing Seven Ounces) was set with large and resplendent Dia­monds, to the Number of Eighty-Four.

IN what Regard this Noble Ensign of Honour the Colla [...], hath been with the Sovereigns and Knights-Companions, not only of the Order of the Garter, but other Military Orders, may be collected from the Pictur [...]s of some of them, as well as from their Seals, Coins, and Medals, for in these they have been pleased to exhibit their Effigies and Escutcheons of Arms; and omitting Foreign Examples, the Collars, both of the Garter and Thistle, were express'd in the Coronation Me­dal of King Charles I. in Scotland, 1633. tho' in that of his Coronation at Westminster, and afterwards in that of King Charles II. 1661. the Collar of the Order of the Ga [...]ter are only put over their Royal Robes.

THESE Ornaments of the Collars, have been affix'd sometimes encircling the Shields of their Arms; and in a S [...]al of Charles the Bold. Duke of Burgundy, Sovereign of the Order of the Golden Fleece, plac'd to an Instru­ment dated, 1470. it is worthy of Remark, that Collar adorns the Neck of the Lyon of Flanders; but the Sovereigns of the Garter usually encompass'd their Arms, not within the Collar of the Ord [...]r, but the Royal Garter, that being its principal Ensign; and [Page 177] sometimes, having no Shield of Arms, the void Space within the Garter, exhibits their Arms.

OBSERVABLE is the Seal of Charles Count Palatine of the Rhine, wherein is a Shield quarterly of the Palatinate and Bavaria, obscuring the Lyon Guardant its Supporter, his Four SS's only appearing quadrangularly, and his Head a top ensign'd with an Electoral Crown; this Shield is encircled both within the Garter and Collar of the Order, and is the first Example wherein both these Ensigns are jointly together. It is very frequent to ex­press the Collars of different Orders together: Thus I have seen the Arms of Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester, entour'd within the Garter, and a Collar of the Order of St. Michael, having been Knight of these Orders, and the Funeral Atchievement of the late James Hamil­ton Douglas Duke of Hamilton, had the Garter and a Collar of the Thistle about it. And in a Plate under the Effi­gies of the Duke of Aspernons, a Shield of his Arms quarter'd, is encompass'd with the chiefest Ensigns of those Three Orders, whereof he was a Brother and Companion, viz. with the Garter and the Collars of St. Michael and the Holy Ghost. And the older the Order is in the Roll of Antiquity, whose chief Ensign is there represented, the nearer ought it to be plac'd to the Escutcheon of Arms, being the more Honourable Post. A Mistake was committed in the marshalling these Col­lars, when the Duke of Chevereux affixed it over his Stall at Windsor, the Collars of St. Mithael and the Holy Ghost are plac'd nearer to his Escutcheon than that of the Garter.

§ 8. AND whereas we have spoke of another kind of Collar, call'd a Collar of SS's, worn as Badges of lower and inferior Honour, it will not be amiss to inform our Judgment in other Affairs concerning them, Wicelius informs us from a Book in the Library of Fulda, where (in the Life of the Two Brothers Simplicius and Faustinus, both Senators, and suffer'd Martyrdom under Dioclesian) there is a Description of the Society of St. Simplicius, consisting of Noble Personages in their own Families, and describing the Collar wore as the Badge of it says, thus: It was the Custom of those Persons to wear about [Page 178] their Necks Silver Collars, compos'd of double SS's, which denote the Name of Saint Simplicius, between these double SS's. The Collar consisted of Twelve small Plates of Silver, in which were engraven the Twelve Articles of the Creed, toge­ther with a single Trefoil: The Image of St. Simplicius hung at the Collar, and from it Seven Plates, representing the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost. As to the manner of their Martyrdom, they were bound together by the Neck to a Stone, and thrown over the Bridge into the River Tyber.

AT what Time the Collar of SS's came into England is not fully determin'd, but it will appear at least Three Hundred Years since, and worn as an Ornament for Women, as well as Men; for on a Monument in the Collegiate Church of Warwick, the Figure of Margaret, Wife to Sir William Peito (said to be interr'd Temp. Edw. III.) hath a Collar of SS's drawn about, and set close to her Neck, which the Sculpture in The Antiqui­ties of Warwickshire, by mistake, represented like a Ruff. There was also a Collar of SS's about the Neck of Sir Simon Burley's Statue in St. Paul's London.

IN the ancient Creation of an Esquire in England, part of the Ceremony was the King's putting about his Neck a Silver Collar of SS's. And Selden, in his Titles of Honour contemns not the old Ballad, The Tanner of Tamworth, to prove the Creation of Esquires in King Edw. IV's Reign, by conferring such Collars on them. But that the Golden one was the undoubted Badge of a Knight, as may be instanc'd by many undeniable Ex­amples, deduc'd from the Monuments of such Persons, Temp. Hen. VI. Ed. IV. Hen. VII. Hen. VIII. and since, and so legally appropriate thereto, that in the Act 24 H. VIII. made for Reformation of Apparel, there is a Proviso entred, That Knights, notwithstanding, might pub­lickly wear a Gold Collar of SS's, tho' since it is grown obsolete and useless. Favin tells us that our Hen. V. in­stituted an Order surnam'd Knights of the SS's, on the Day of the Martyrs St. Crispine and Crispianus; which tho' he found nothing of it in our English Historians, yet from the Chronicle of Juvenal des Ursins, where he treats of the Battle of Agincourt, he collected this fol­lowing Relation.

AMONG the Variety of Collars of SS's now in vogue, there are these following: The Lord Mayor of London's Collar is compos'd of Gold, having a Knot (like one of those that tye the Garters together in the great Col­lar of the Order) inserted between Two SSs, and they again situated between Two Roses, viz. a White Rose within a Red, and in the Middle before the Breast is a large Portcullis, whereat hangs a most rich Jewel sett with large Diamonds.

THE Collars of the Lords Chief Justices of both the Benches, and the chief Baron of the Exchequer, are (in Memory of the said St. Simplicius, a Senator, and consequently a Gownman) form'd of the Letter S, and a Knot alternately, having a Rose set in that part of it which falls out to be in the Middle of their Breasts, and another on their Backs; the Five Flowers of these Roses are constituted of Five large Pearls.

THOSE Collars, which appertain to the Kings and Heralds of Arms, as well as to Serjeants at Arms, ha­ving been bestow'd by former Kings, and renew'd to them by King Charles II. to be worn upon Days of so­lemn Attendance, are compos'd of SS's link'd together. In the Middle of the Breast is a Rose, at each of which hangs Three small Drops of Silver; but the SS's in the Collars worn by the Kings of Arms are made somewhat larger than the other, and in that part lying on either Shoulder, is a Portcullis taken in between the SS's, which are wanting in the rest.

[Page 180] THE general difference of the Collars appropriate to the before-named Degrees, is this; Knights have allow'd them Collars of Silver gilt, but Esquires only Silver [...] and therefore in the Creating of an Herald, in part of that Ceremony, he is made an Esquire, by putting on him a Collar of SS's of Silver; and so is a Serjeant at Arms.

THE Kings of England have sometimes been pictured with a Collar of SS's about their Arms, in like manner as the Garter doth surround them, as appears from an Impression of King Henry VIII's Privy Signet; whereon his Royal Arms crown'd are encircled with a Collar of SS's, to the lower End of which are affix'd Two Port­cullisses.

§ 9. WE come now to the lesser George of the Order; and we do not find that the Effigies of St. George was at any time worn by the Sovereign or Knights-Compa­nions, before the Breast or under the Arm, as now used till the 13th of Henry VIII. But then that King decreed in a Chapter held at Greenwich, the Morrow after St. George's Day, That every Knight should wear loosely before his Breast the Image of St. George in a Gold Chain, or otherwise, in a Ribband, the same to be fasten'd within the ennobled Garter, for a manifest Distinction between the Knights-Companions, and o­thers of the Nobility and Knights, who, according to the Mode of those Times, wore large Gold Chain [...], the ordinary Ensigns of Knighthood. And thus the wearing the Medal or Jewel, usually call'd the lesser George, to distinguish it from the other Work at the Collar of the Order, first receiv'd the Injunction, and hath since been frequently used.

THIS George was, for the most part, pure Gold curi­ously wrought, but divers of them were exquisitely graved in Onyx's and Agats, and with such a happy Collection of the Stones, that heightned and received their Beauty by the Skill of the Artificer, in contriving the Figures and History, the natural Tincture of the Stones have so fitted them with Colours for Flesh, Hair, and every thing else, even to Surprize and Admiration. In this Jewel is St. George represented in a Riding [Page 181] Posture encountring the Dragon with his drawn Sword.

BY the last Article of King Henry VIII's. Statutes, it was allowed to be enriched at the Pleasure of the Pos­sessor, (as is the great George) which for the most Part hath been curiously enamell'd, and the Garter about it sett with Diamonds. And of what weight and bigness these lesser George's were, may be gather'd from that sent to the French King Charles IX. being an Ounce and an half and half quarter Weight. The Variety of Workmanship in those Gold Chains whereat this Jewel hung, was usually great, according to the Fancy and Pleasure of the Persons for whom they were wrought. But within a short Space, wearing the lesser George in Silk-Ribbands, as well as Gold-Chains, was promiscu­ously us'd and ad Libitum. (So were the Symbols of Fo­reign Orders, as divers Coins and Medals declare.) But the Colour of these Ribbands when they came first to be wore, was black. John Dudley Viscount Lisle, the Lords St. John and Parr, so used them at their Investiture, 35 Henry VIII. and several Pictures of other Knights-Companions about that time confirm the same. That small Chain whereat hung the lesser George transmitted to Emanuel of Savoy, Ann. 1 & 2 Ph. & Mar. was formed of twelve Pieces of Gold, in every of which was sett three small Diamonds, and of twelve other like Pieces, wherein were three Rubies and twenty four Pearls.

IT appears by a Letter of Sir Richard St. George, Kt. Clarencieux, dated July 10th, 1627. that the blue Ribband had some Years before been additional to the Ornament of the Order; and 'tis reported, that Robert Earl of Essex observing in France the Jewels of the Order of St. Michael and St. Esprit worn in blue Ribbands, upon his return was the principal motive those Ribbands whereat the George hung, were exchanged into that Colour. And in a Picture of Queen Elizabeth, drawn towards the Declension of her Reign, her lesser George is represented hanging before her Breast in a blue Rib­band. And this Colour was more caressed, and grew in great repute, by reason it was the Ground of the Gar­ter, and nearest the Colour of the Mantle of the Order: So that toward the latter End of the Reign of King [Page 182] James I. because the dye of the Ribband had not been peculiarly express'd in any Statute, and the blue and azure accustomed for some Years past, it was de­creed, That for the future it should be always of blue, and no other; nor in time of Mourning it self, should be changed.

THE Manner of wearing this Ribband in time of Peace, was of later Times pendant about the Neck, down to the Middle of the Breast, where the lesser George hung; but since, for the more Conveniency of Riding or Action, the same is spread over the left Shoulder, and brought under the right Arm where the Jewel hangs [...]

BUT where the Pictures of the Sovereign and Knights-Companions are drawn in Armour, there even to this Day the George is represented as fix'd to a Gold Chain instead of a blue Ribband, and worn about the Neck, not brought under the right Arm, as exhibited on the three Pound Pieces of Gold stamped at Oxford by King Charles I. 1643. and a Medal of Charles Count Palatine of the Rhine, dated 1645.

AMONG the invaluable Jewels and other Curiosities of King Charles I. which came to the Hands of the Tru­stees appointed for Sale of his Goods, were these,

THE George King Charles I. had at his Martyrdom, was curiously Engraved in an Onyx set about with twenty One large Table-Diamonds in the Fashion of a Garter. On the reverse of the said George was the Picture of the Queen set in a Case of Gold, the Lid neatly enamell'd with Goldsmith's Work, and surrounded with another Garter adorned with an equal Number of Diamonds, as [Page 183] was that of King Charles II. also sett with fair Diamonds; and after the Defeat given to the Scotch Forces at Wor­cester, 4 Car. II. was strangely preserved by Colonel Blague, one of that King's dispersed Attendants, who re­signed it for safety to the Wife of Mr. Barlow of Blare-Pipe-House in Stafford-shire, where he took Sanctuary; from whom Robert Milward Esq; receiv'd and gave it into-the Hands of Mr. Isaac Walton, (all Loyalists.) It came again to Blague's Possession, then Prisoner in the Tower; whence making his escape, he restor'd it to King Charles II.

IT is worthy of Remark, that besides the Sovereign of the most Noble Order of the Garter, other Princes of Christendom have assumed the bearing St. George en­countring the Dragon in like Posture, tho' not so an­ciently, nor upon the same Grounds and Foundation as they; probably having elected him Patron and Guar­dian of their Countries or Families; such as the Em­perors of Russia, the Dukes of Mantua, and the Counts Mansfield in Germany, as their Seals and Coins plainly demonstrate.

IN the Great Seal of Borice Feodorwicke, Emperour of Russia affixed to his Letter sent to Queen Elizabeth, dated at Mosco, June 12th, 1602, was a double Headed Eagle displaid, having each Head crowned, and bear­ing an Eschutcheon with the Representation of St. George upon its Breast. There is another of this Empe­rour's Great Seals, fixed to his Letter, dated May 31st. 1594. which he also sent to Queen Elizabeth. On one side is the above-said Eagle, having on his Breast an Escutcheon charged with an Horse currant; the Reverse the Figure of St. George encountring the Dragon with his Spear. The Great Seal of Alexie Michaelowich, Empe­rour of Russia, affixed to his Letters sent King Charles II. 1660. hath a like Eagle with a third Crown situated between the two Heads, and bearing in a Cartouch-Com­partment upon his Breast, the Figure of St. George: Which Representation of St. George and the Dragon, we find assigned for Arms, to Anne de Russie, Daughter to Jarisla [...]s King of Russia and Muscovia, given in Espousal to Henry I. King of France, 1051. and thus Blazon'd [...] D'in St. Marthe de Gueules, a [...]un homme a [...]Cheval, d'argent, tenant [Page 184] une Lance en la main, qu'il darde en la gueule d'un Dragoⁿ renverse.

THE Counts of Mansfield have frequently stamp'd it on their Coin. On one side is St. George encountring the Dragon with his Sword, with this Circumscription, Sanct. Geo. Co. do. de Man. on the reverse, his Arms cir­cumscribed, Mon. de Arc. Co. do. de Man. Of those of the Dukes of Mantua, we may see one of Vincentius Duke of Mantua and Montferat, a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, wherein is his Effigies to the Breast, Vinc. D. G. Dux MANT. III. MONTFERU. on the Reverse St. George and the Dragon, Motto, Protector nostra aspic. 1591. and Casal at the Bottom.

§ 10. When the Habit or part of it ought to be worn is the next thing we shall speak of.

THE more solemn Days and Occasions which require a fuller conformity, and the wearing the whole Habit, i. e. the Garter, Mantle, Surcoat, Hood, Collar, Great George, and Cap, ar [...] first, The High Festival of the Order, commonly called St. George's Feast, whether it be solemnized on the 22d, 23d or 24th of April, annually, or any other Days within the Year by Prorogation, as is apparent by all the Bodies of the Statutes.

FOR, First it is ordained, That the Knights-Compa­nions should be Arrayed in the whole Habit on the Eve of St. George, before the Sovereign proceeded to the Chapter to hear Divine Service, and being so Robed, should attend on the Sovereign to the Chapter-House, thence to the Chapel, and return with him back in the same manner, until after Supper, as well those that minded to Sup, as those that should not Sup; nor might they disrobe, until the Sovereign or his Deputy had put off his, or declar'd it seasonable for his or their doing so.

BY the same Statute they were enjoined to wear the whole Habit on the Feast of St. George, both at their Progression in the Morning to the Chapter-House or Chapel, at their return to Dinner from thence to the Second Vespers, and back to Supper, as also till Supper was over, and until the Sovereign or his Lieutenant took leave of the rest of the Knights-Companions.

[Page 185] Secondly, IT is manifest from King Henry VIII's Sta­tutes, That the Eve, the Day of St. George, and Mor­row following, were to be observed with solemn Ser­vice, and holding of Chapters wheresoever the Sove­reign was resident; tho' the Grand Feast were Prorogued to a longer Duration; and when by reason of such Pro­rogation, they should convene in any Place besides Windsor to attend the Sovereign for the Solemnization of St. George's Day, they then must Adorn themselves with the whole Habit from beginning of the first Ves­pers, until the last Evening Service of the same Day.

Thirdly, ON such other Days of the Year whereon the Grand Feast is held by Prorogation, and during such Part of the Eve and Day of the Feast, as is before ap­pointed when it is held on its proper Day.

Fourthly, BY absent Knights, whensoever the Grand Feast of St. George should be celebrated, and whereso­ever they should happen at that time to reside, (if at Liberty, and not under restraint) to keep it in like manner as if then present with the Sovereign, or his Deputy in the Place where he should Celebrate the Feast. The time of wearing the whole Habit in this Point extends but to the End of the second Vespers, as in the second Instance above.

Fifthly, THE Knights-Companions are to wear the entire Habit at the Feasts of Installation when they assist at that Ceremony; where, if it commence in the Evening, they are not to disrobe themselves till after Supper; and being the next Morning habited as be­fore, then to proceed to the Chapter-House or Cha­pel, and not to devest themselves till Dinner is ended.

THE less solemn Occasions are those, which require the wearing the Mantle or Collar of the Order only.

AND they are first, upon the Morrow after the Grand Feast-Day, when the Sovereign and Knights-Companions proceed to the Chapel, and make their Offering; then it sufficeth, that they barely put on the Mantle, which, Service being Finished, they were wont to leave it at the Chapter-House-Door as they retired out of the Chapel.

Secondly, AS often as Chapters are called, and in what Place soever assembled, either for Elections, or other Causes, as it shall please the Sovereign to nominate: [Page 186] And as often as it is requisite for the Sovereign, or any of the Knights-Companions to enter into the Chapel of St. George at Windsor; and in reference hereunto, is the Article 15 E. 3. was that their Mantles should remain in the Vestry at Windsor, that upon any sudden emergency, they might be in readiness: for in the Inventory of the Chapel taken 8 R. 2. we find remaining at that time in the Vestry, a Mantle appertaining to the Sove­reign, another to John Duke of Britain, a third to John Holland Earl of Huntington, another to Edmund Langley Earl of Cambridge, and one to Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent, all of them then surviving [...] And by a Decree past at the Grand Feast 1 H. 6. the Mantle of the young Sovereign was appointed to be left at Windsor, as the Statutes required; and this Article was confirmed by King Henry VIII. by Virtue whereof, the Mantles of the Emperor Charles V. and Anna Duke of Montmorency, were left in the Custody of the Dean and Canons of Windsor. And heretofore in the Bill of drawing up Matters neces­sary for the Installation of a Knight-Companion, there were usually two Mantles set down; one expressed to be left in the College, and the other for all other Occa­sions that might intervene.

THESE Mantles thus ordered to be reposed in the College upon emergent Occasions, were anciently com­mitted to the Custody of the Black-Rod, as granted by Letters Patent with the Office 1 H. 5. And after the Death of the Owners, devolved to the Dean and Canons of Windsor, either for the publick Use of the Knights-Companions when they casually came to Windsor, or else sold sometimes to the Heirs of the Deceased, or others who succeeded in the Order, as that of Charles V. was to the Earl of Bedford, and that of the Constable of France lent to the Earl of Warwick, Ann. 7 Eliz. which appears from the Accounts of the Chanter of the College, temp. H. 4. H. 5. H. 8. Q. Eliz. and Jac. 1. who in all times answered the full Benefit thereof to the College, as being a certain Perquisite to the Dean and Canons, which they accordingly had and enjoyed.

AND yet we find some of the College made over­bold with the Robe of Sigismond the Emperour, and sold it while he surviv'd. But the Archbishop of York, who, [Page 187] as Chancellor of England, visited the College, 1431. secured the Money from being distributed among those that sold it, and reserved the Dividend to the Dean and Chapter that should chance to be living at that Emperour's Expiration; and commanded for the Future under Pain of Excommunication, That no Dean and Canon should imbezil or aliene any Knights-Com­panion's Mantle while he was alive, but the same should be decently and faithfully kept and preserved. But we are informed, that this Statute was altered, Ann. 9 Eliz. and one drawn up to this effect, That the Knights-Com­panions should be bound by Oath to take care by their Wills, that after their Decease, all the Ornaments which they had received should be restored, the Robes to the College, and the Jewels to the Sovereign that gave them.

IN the last Place, the Times of wearing the Collar of the Order, with the Great George appendant, which is not only enjoined to be worn (as part of the Habit) at the grand Feasts and Feasts of Installation, but also at other times when not any of the rest of the Habit is ordered (saving the Garter) is to be worn, as in spe­cial, at the principal and solemn Feasts of the Year, and o­ther Feast-Days: To which a particular Order in Chap­ter, Ann. 4 Eliz. thus directs,

• The Holy-days and Sundays within the twelve Days.
• St. Matthias Day.
• Holydays in Easter-Week.
• St. Mark's Day.
• St. Philip and Jacob's Day.
• Holy-days in Whitsun-Week.
• St. Peter's Day.
• St. James's Day.
• St. Bartholomew.
• St. Matthew.
• St. Luke.
• St. Simon and Jude.
• St. Andrew.
• St. Thomas.

BESIDES these, the Sovereigns and Knights-Compa­nions have been accustomed to wear this Ensign upon the Anniversary of the Sovereign's Coronation, of the Gun [...]Powder Treason, and, of later Times, on the Sove­reign's Birth-day: So formerly upon some occasional Ceremonies not relative to the Order; as when a Knight-Companion hath been created into Titles of Dignity and Honour, he had the Collar of the Garter added to his [Page 188] Investiture, as appears in the Case of Henry Stafford, cre­ated Earl of Wiltshire, Ann. 1 Hen. 8. And at a Chapter held May 22d. 1622. That such Knights-Companions as should afterwards assist at the Funeral of any Knight-Companion, should wear the Collar apert at the said Funeral. And it was so observed by the Dukes of Or­mond and Richmond, the Earls of Manchester and Sandwich, at the Obsequies of George Monk Duke of Albemarle.

Howbeit, the Custom is otherwise as to wearing the Garter, the principal Ensign of the Order; for tho' it be injoyned to be wore at the grand Festivals, &c. yet it does not imply that it might be left off: For indeed it ought daily to be worn both by the Sovereign and Knights Companions. And therefore was it decreed even in its Institution, That if any Knight-Companion should in publick be found without one buckled about his Leg, upon Challenge he should be mulct a Noble to the Dean and College of Windsor. By King Henry VIII. the Fine was raised a Mark, payable as before to any of the five Officers of the Order [...] or to the Dean; besides which Fine, the Knight lies liable to a Check. But to alleviate the Strictness, and obviating other Inconveni­encies, King Henry V. admitted of a Qualification; and in case of riding with Boots, ordained, That it might suffice if the Knight-Companion wore some Ribband or Silk-Lace to represent the Garter; tho' in this very Article there is a Proviso, That no Knight-Companion should enter into Chapter, without his Garter buckled about the Leg.

In short, King Henry VIII. ordained, That the Gold-Chain whereat the lesser George (in that Age) hung, should be worn all other days in the Year, except the Principal and Solemn Feasts, whereon the great Collar was ordained to be worn, and except in time of War, Sickness, or long Voyage, in any of which Cases, a Silk-Lace or Ribband, with the Image of St. George thereat, was sufficient; and the blue Ribband having since suc­ceeded in Place of the Cold Chain, the Injunction of this Statute extends to it in all particulars.

The present Habits, Ensigns and Badges, belonging to the Officers of the Garter.

§ 1. CONCERNING the Officers appointed for the service of the Order, to give it a greater degree and augmentation of Honour, the Founder constituted a Prelate, R [...]gister and Usher, assig­ning them several Duties. Some of his Successors added the Chanchellor and Garter, and all of them Sworn to be of the Council of the Order; among these the Prelate and Chanchellor are usually nominated the Prin­cipal, the other three the inferiour Officers of the Order.

IN this Chapter we shall give some account of their Institution, Oath, Habit, Ensigns, Privileges and Pen­sions; for as to the nature of their Offices and their Duties, they are for the general, Recorded in the Black Book, under the Title Constutiones ad Officiales Ordinis [Garterij] peculiarit [...]r attinentes, &c. Upon the Establish­ment, Anno 13. Hen. VIII. 1521. and annex'd to his Statutes, and more particularly their Duties, will occur in several places of the ensuing Discourse, where they properly fall in to be Treated of, as follows;

THE Prelate is the first and primier Offic [...]r, and in the Founders Statutes, call'd Praelatus O [...]dinis; and that the then Bishop of Winchester, William de Edyngton was the first Prelate is very obious from thence; he is an Officer of Honour only, and hath neither Pension nor Fees allowed him by the said Constitutions; this Office is vested in the Bishop of Winchester, for the time being; and from the Annals of the Order it's manifest his Suc­cessors have continued Prelates to this Day, except the interruption only of a few Months, Anno 7. Ed. 6. im­mediately after the Publishing this King's Statutes; wherein the other Four Officers were cons [...]ituted a new, to attend the Order, but the Prelate wholly laid by.

WHAT high reputation this See hath been favour'd with, may be collected from an Act of Parliament, [...]1. [...]en. VIII. concerning the Placing of the Lords in Parlia­m [...]nt Chamber, and other Assemblies and Conference [...] of Council, whereby thi [...] Bishop had Place assigned [Page 190] him next to the Bishop of Durham, who hath place by that Act, next the Archbishop of York; tho' before in re­spect of the prehemenence of this noble Order, he had precedence and Place granted above all Bishops, and next unto the Arch-Bishops. At that Officers admittance he is oblig'd to take an Oath in the presence of the Soveraign or his Lieutenant, which consists of these particulars.

1. To be present in all Chapters, whereunto he is Sum­moned.

2. To report all things truly without Favour or Fear.

3. To take the Scrutiny faithfully, and present it to the Sovereign.

4 [...] To keep secret, and not disclose the Councils of the Order.

5. To promote and mainta [...]n the Honour of it.

6. To withstand and reveal what is designed to the con­trary.

THIS Oath is read in Chapter, by the Register of the Order, the Gentleman-Usher of the Black-Rod, hold­ing the Book, whilst the Prelate Kneels between th [...] Sovereign's Knees.

§ 2. THE institution of the Chancellors Office, his Oath, Robe, Badge, and Pension next follows to be han­dled. At the Erecting this Noble Order, the common Seal was ordained to remain in the custody of whomso­ever the Sovereign should please to lodge it, but expresly to be one of the Knights-Companions; among whom in after times, Sir John Robertsack is Stiled Custos Si [...]illi Or­dinis, having the custody of it by Decree, 1. Hen. VI. by a Prolepsis of Speech, Styled Chancellor in the Black Book. But King Edw. IV. finding it requisite to fix the Office of Chancellor of the Garter, in a Person distinct from the Knights-Companions, and subservient to them, Decreed in a Chapter at Westminister, 16 R [...]gni sui, That the Seal of the Order should be resigned to Richard Beauchamp, then Bishop of Salisbury to keep [Page 194] during pleasure, and he to be called Chancellor of this most noble Order; not long after by Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of England, Dated the 10th of Oct. 15. Edw. IV. this King declared, that tho' this Office was not expressed by the Founder's Statutes, yet was it nevertheless very useful, and therefore for the Advance­ment, and good of the Order, he constituted an Of­ficer named Chancellor: And forasmuch as this Office was of great Import and Concern, and required an ex­pert and able Person, it was His further Pleasure, that none but a Bishop should Execute it; moreover con­sidering the Chapel of St. George at Windsor, was Found­ed within the Diocess of Salisbury, and having regard to the prudence and diligence of the said Beauchamp, who out of meer love to the Order, attended daily the progress of the Work, wherewith the King was then in hand for enlarging the Chapel at Windsor; he did therefore Ordain the said Bishop for the Term of his Life, Chancellor of the Order, and after his decease, his Successors, Bishops of Salisbury, should always have and hold the said Chancellor-ship; Nevertheless, pro­vided that the King's Concession should be put in exe­cution, by the Advice of the Knights-Companions, and without prejudice to the Bishop of Winchester, in those things which ought by the Statutes of Institution to belong unto him.

THIS Office thus conferred upon Beauchamp perso­nally for Life, and perpetually to his Successors, Bi­shops of Salisbury, by vertue of this Grant continued Chancellors, nor doth it appear that any other Person had been invested therein, until Ann. 7. E. VI. that Sir William Cecil, then principal Secretary of State, was made Chancellor.

FOR upon Reformation of the Order by that King, his Statutes wholly excluded the Ecclesiasticks, and ap­pointed that the Chancellors-Office should be executed by a Knight qualified, with Honour and Reputation to manage a Post of that Care and Fidelity; he there­upon appointed Sir William Cecil, Chancellor; And here first entred a secular Person, notwithstanding which in a Charter to the Bishop of Salisbury, 4 Eliz. (containing the Charters of Queen Mary, H. VIII. and [Page 195] H. VII. and in another 4. Car. I. the forementioned Letters Patents, made to Beauchamp, by King Edw. IV. are therein recited totidem verbis, and confirmed as a Tacit Reservation of the Right and Title of those Bishops, whensoever the Sovereign should have a benign and propitious Aspect towards that See. The first of these Bishops who concerned himself for re­covering this high Station to that See, was Bishop Cotton, who upon the Death of Sir Edward Dyer, sometime Chancellor, Petitioned the Sovereign, 6. Jac. I. and pray­ed Restitution thereof to the Church of Salisbury; but be­fore any determination, the two chief Justices, and chief Baron was advised withal, who were of Opinion, that this Office was not compleatly or sufficiently annexed to the Bishoprick of Salisbury by King Edw. IV. But Cook in his Institutes, reports the point Void, upon the incertainty of the Grant, for that a new Office was Erected, and not defined what Jurisdiction or Authority the Officer should Exercise; and there's assigned a third Reason, That the Grant was in the Sovereign's disposal, because the Patent was obtained without Fee; with one or more of these Opinions, the Sovereign's judg­ment being swayed, He forthwith nominated Sir John Herbert, one of His privy Council to the Chancellor­ship, and so this affair remained Silent, until Anno 12. Car. I. when John Davenant, Bishop of Salisbury, upon Sir Francis C [...]anes decease, remonstrated to the So­vereign his Claim to this Office, whereupon at a Chapter held at Windsor, 5th of Dec. that Year, the Sovereign propos'd to the Knights-Companions present, that tho' he had made Election of Sir Thomas Rowe for his Chancellor that time, yet understanding a Claim made by the Bishop of Salisbury, that the Place was annexed to that See, he commanded the Lords-Companions to take the pretence of right into their considerations; to which proposition of the King's, they answered that they thought it not their duty to search for the Title of any Person, but that if the Bishop did produce his Evidence and Proofs, he might present it in Chapter to be considered.

UPON this Encouragement, the Bishop presented a Petition, which was read in the Chapter at Windsor, [Page 196] the 18th of April ensuing, to this effect, That King Edw. IV, by Letters Patent, had Erected this Office of Chan­cellor, and did then grant the same to Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salisbury, and his Successors for ever, in con­sideration that the Chapel of St. George was within their Diocess; that those Bishops had enjoyed the same, according to the Charter, which Charter had been con­firmed under the Great Seal of England, by some other Kings and Queens, and lastly by the King himself. But that the use and exercise of that Office had for many Years been discontinued from them, praying therefore an Hearing, and Examination, that the right of the said Church might be preserved and restored. To the substance of which it was objected.

First, THAT the Great Seals of England did not work within, or upon the Statutes and Rules of the Order of the Garter.

Second, THAT no Grant could prescribe the present Sovereign, it being a Law Fundamental within the Or­der, Suprema Lex was Suprema Voluntas.

Third, THAT it did not appear by the Records of the Order, that the Office of the Chancellor was any other­wise conferred upon Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salis­bury, than quam diu Regiae celsitudini complaceret.

TO the First, It was answered by way of Exception, as to the Grant of Offices, forasmuch as the Great Seal of England was took into, and became legal within the Order in like cases; and not any Patent for an Office, had past under the Seal of the Order, but under the Great Seal of England, and in particular the Office of the Chancellor-ship, which had not been transacted, if any legal defect had been therein.

TO the Second, granting it was so as was Objected, it appeared that the Sovereign was as much at liberty to restore this Office to the See of Salisbury, as continue it to secular Dignities.

TO the Third, what was alledged out of the Records of the Order, related only to the time of delivering the Seals to Bishop Bea [...]champ: But afterwards when the Office was Erected by Letters Patent, it was then granted to him during Life. Something was replied from the Judges Opinions, even in this case, Ann. Jac. [Page 197] R. VI. But the Sovereign thought it was not then well canvass'd and weighed, to permit the Chapter Acts of this Order, wholly independant from other Laws, to receive construction and determination from the com­mon Law, and therefore declared that the Bishop ought to be heard; and to that purpose, gave him Orders to prepare the Vouchers and Proofs of his pretensions in vindication of his Petition, and to send them to be delivered to the Knights-Commissioners, elected for the affairs of the Order, for their consideration at the next Chapter, which was accordingly put in execution, and then refierred to them again to be considered, prepar­ed and abbreviated, to be perused by the Sovereign, for his final determination. But the Scotch War shortly af­ter breaking forth, and troubles running high at Home, the further Prosecution was laid aside, and not revived until the 19th of Nov. Anno 21. Car. II. When Seth Ward, Bishop of Salisbury, took encouragement upon the former grounds, and the Sovereign's favour, to set on foot this Claim, by a Petition presented to the Chap­ter then held at Whitehall, where, after a full debate and mature deliberation had of its equity and just Foun­dation, he obtained a Decree for Re-establishment of this Office on the Bishops of that See, upon the first vacancy, Dated the 19th of Nov. 1669. and present his Majesty the Sovereign, the Dukes of York, and Or­mond, Earls of Oxford and Manchester, Prince Rupert, Earls of Bristol and Sandwich, and the Duke of Mon­mouth.

§ 3. THE Registers Oath, Mantle, Badge, Privi­leges and Pension, fall next under our consideration; he was one of the three, Constituted at the Institution of the Order, under the Title of Registrator and Regi­strarius, and so is called in the Statutes of King Hen. V. elsewhere in the Books of the Order, Scriba and A­ctuarius. What were the first Registers, names we can­not discover, till the Reign of King Hen. V. But it may be presumed, they were Canons of Windsor; because this Office was at first assigned to one of that College; besides the Registers from the Reign of King Henry V. to the beginning of King Henry VIIIth Reign, were also Canons of this College, among [Page 204] whom was John Coningham, (and the first found called so) as the Fragments of a Glass Inscription in Clare Church near Windsor, where he was Rector, attests. The first Dean of Windsor, Constituted Register of the Or­der was John Vesey, Anno 8. Hen. VIII. many of whose Successors in this Deanry, have since been admitted; nevertheless, as they were Canons not Deans of Wind­sor, and tis not improbable the Deans were Elected to this Office, as being enabled to support the Reputation of the Registership, with the Revenue of his Deanry, better than any of the Canons, with the addition of the Pension. But at a Chapter held at Whitehall, the 22d of April, 11 Car. I. The Sovereign thought it conveni­ent that the Office of Dean and Register should concen­ter in one and the same Person, as formerly, and there­fore commanded this his Pleasuer to be Enrolled among the Annals of the Order, that so it might pass in the future Times, from Example into Rule.

BY the Constitutions of the Office, a secular Person is made capable of it, no less than an Ecclesiastick, how be it, He is to be a Man of singular integrity, eminent quality, a Knight, and signalized for Experience and Learning; but if an Ecclesiastick, then must he be a Per­son of consummate Erudition, a professor of Divinity or Law, either Canon, or Civil, and a Dignitarian in some Cathedral Church, or else a Canon at Windsor.

THE substance of his Oath in the Statute of the Institutions was, That he should enter upon the Registry, with all Fidelity, the Scrutinies, Elections, Penalties, Reconciliations, and all other Acts relating to the Order, to which was ad­ded, that he shall faithfully Discharge his Duty in all things. But in King Hen. VIIIth Days, the Oath en­joyned him, differs nothing from that of the Prelates and Chancellors.

AT his Admission, he takes this Oath Kneeling, while the Prelate used to pronounce the Words as Anno 1 Mar. 5. and 6. Ph. and Mar. but in his absence, as Anno 3 Eliz. the Chancellor administred it. Anno 4. Car. I. the Prelate, Chancellor, and Register, took their Oaths at one time, and then it was thus Ordered; first the Register took it Kneeling between the Sovereign's Knees, the Black Rod holding the Evangelists, and the Garter [Page 205] read the Words out of the black Book; this done, the Register read the Words of the Prelates Oath, when he was Sworn; and in the last place, did the like to the Chancellor; after this manner did Garter read the Words to the Registers, admitted 11 Car. I. and 12 Car. II. We cannot trace the Habit this Officer had assigned him at the Erection of the Order; but it af­terwards appears, that his Allowance was the same with the Chancellors, consisting of 5 Yards of Woollen Cloth, and 3 Timber of Minever gross, equalent to what those Knights-Companions had allotted, who were under the degree of an Earl: The Habit he is pourtrayed in, at a proceeding of King Hen. VIIIth Reign, shews it to be Ecclesiastical, a black Gown, a Surplice over that, reaching to his Ancles, and thereon a Mantle of Furs; but the Constitutions of his Office restricted him to none, wherein there seems a defect, since they have assignd Habits to the Garter, and black Rod. Notwithstanding by a Draught of the Officers in their ancient Dress, it is plainly demonstrable to be a Mantle, somewhat of a Russel colour, Faced with a Pane of blue, whereon is Embroidred a Flower-de­luce Crowned Gold, then another Pane red, thereon a Lyon Passant gardant Crowned Gold, and so they are al­ternately placed to the bottom; to this Mantle belong Cordons of Silk, blue and yellow.

SINCE that time, not only the Registers, but also Gar­ters and Black Rods, Robes, underwent some Altera­tions; for by a Decree in Chapter, called at St. James, Jun. 1. 4 and 5. Ph. and Mar. these Officers were assign­ed Mantles of crimson Satin, Lined with Taffaty, and a Scutcheon of St. George's Arms, Embroidred on the left Shoulder, but not encircled with a Garter, having the same Buttons and Tassels as wereappointed to the Pre­late and Chancellor; the proportion of Satin assign­ed to each Mantle, was 14 Yards, and as many Yards of white Taffaty.

AND tho' the Registers Mantle was Ann. 27 Eliz. com­posed of the preceeding Materials, and had like Trim­ming, yet they agree not in their Proportions, here be­ing allowed 18 Yards of crimson Satin, and but 12 of Taffaty; from hence these Mantles continued immutable [Page 206] until the 20th of Feb. 13 Car. II. when there Issued a Warrant to the Master of the great Wardrobe, to prepare for this Officer, as also for Garter, and the Black Rod, for their Liveries Mantles of scarlet Satin, each containing 18, and 10 Yards of white Taffaty for Li­ning, but consonant in all other Punctilio's with the former; yet why the colour was altered, is not ex­pressed.

THE Register seems to have been represented with a Scrowle in his Hand, for his Badge, and by the pro­ceedings in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, Pictured with a Book, both proper Symbols of his Office. In Dr. Chri­stopher Wren's Registership, the Sovereign Commanded him to cover the red Book of the Order with crim­son Velvet, and assigned for the Garter, two Pens in Saltire, interlacing the Garter above with these two Letters C R Crowned, all being richly Embroidred, (as also the Border) with Venice Gold and Silver, and various colours of Naples Silk, by Harrison the Sove­reign's Embroiderer, with a Clasp, in Imitation of the Garter, surrounding the Representation of St. George, which cost 12 l. 17 s. 6 d. This Book he was Ordered to bear before his Breast, on all Solemn Occasions when he wore his Mantle, and for his better Conveni­ence, he made a Belt and an Ouch to hang it by.

So high a Regard had the Sovereigns of this Order, not only to this Officer, but likewise to Garter and Black Rod, that they took them into a particular Pro­tection, and by the Constitutions of their Offices granted them, ‘That they, their Goods and Servants should severally remain under the Safe-guard of the Sovereign; and if any Injury or Violence should chance to be offered them either by Subjects or For­reigners, whensoever they should exhibit their Com­plaint to the Sovereign, either himself or the Knights-Companions should afford them Justice [...] but if the adverse Party should refuse to submit his Cause to the Sovereign, then the Sovereign and Knights-Companions should shew themselves so far inclinable towards these Officers, as to be ready to allow them all favour, countenance, &c.’ consistent with Justice and Equity.

[Page 207] UPON the strength and Security of this ancient Pri­vilege, to avoid the prolongation of a Law Suit, Dr. Christopher Wren Register, Petitioned the Sovereign in Chapter, held at Whitehall, the 19th of April, 13 Car. I. against one Thornhill, who under Pretence of Digging for Salt-Peter, had so Undermined his Pigeon­house, Built on the Rectory of Kno [...]l Magna in Wiltsh. that it fell down; and upon reading of the Petition, it was resolved by the Sovereign, and Knights-Compani­ons, ‘That they would confider the Grant in the Con­stitutions, and, until it was farther declared, the Chan­cellor of the Order should have Power upon Infor­mation of any rigour upon Controverse begun in any other Court, to write Letters under the Signet of the Order, that all vexation against them should be superseded until Information of the cause were gi­ven to and determination in the Cause resumed by the Sovereign, or leave of him obtained to Proceed.’ Af­ter this it is set down, that Thornhill was Summoned before the Lords Commissioners of the Navy, and his ne­gative Answer given in, and represented to the Sovereign in another Chapter, conven'd the 4th of October ensu­ing; whereupon it was ordered, ‘That the Chancellor should write to the same Lords Commissioners, and another to the Earls of Pembroke, Arundel and Dorset, three of the Knights-Companions, to Empower them, that they or any three of them, should cause the said Thornhill to be brought before them, and like­wise write to any of the Inhahitants of Knoil, to view and testifie the Truth, to hear any further proof on the behalf of either Party, and to give Sentence ac­cording to Justice, that so a tedious Suit of Law might be prevented, and the Dignity of this most noble Or­der protected.’ These Commands of the Chancellor being Executed, and Certificates returned from the Country, the Knigh [...]s Companions, in a Chapter held the 23th of May, 14 Car. I. were moved to peruse them; but before they could meet, Thornhill fled, and the Pro­secution of this business ceased. Upon the same foot­ing was it, that the said Dr. Wren obtained from King Cha. I. His Gracious Protection for himself, Servants, and Estate, literally expressed in the late War, as t [...] [Page 208] Violaters of that Order would answer this our contrary at their Peril, Da [...]ed at Oxford, under the Signet of this our Order the 12th Day of Dec. in the 19th Year of our Reign.

THIS Officer by the Constitutions hath a Pension of 50 l. per Annum, or proportionable in Fees, Offices, or other Emoluments; and Ann. 1. and 2 Ph. and Mar. the same numerical Pension was conferred on Owen Oglethorp, Dean of Windsor, out of the Exchequer, un­til some Ecclesiastical Preferment of like value should devolve on him. The same was confirmed to Dr. Maxey, by Decree in Chapter, 16 Jac. I. and afterwards to Dr. Beaumont, by Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of [...]ngland, 20 Jac. I. but there needed no Allotment of Lodgings at Windsor to this Officer, as there was to the rest, since both the Canons and Dean were provided of Houses belonging to their Ecclesiastical Dignities within the College, at the Er [...]ction of the Order.

§ 4. THE fourth Officer of the Order is Garter. He was ordain­ed by King Henry V. with the advice and consent of all the Knights-Companions, who for the Honour of the Order, was pleased he should be the principal Officer within the College of Arms, and chief of the Heralds. The Services enjoyned him, relating to the Order, were in preceding Times, performed by the Windsor Herald of Arms, an Officer created with that Title by K. Edward III. much about the time of his Erecting this Order, and an Annual Pension of 20 Marks, payable out of the Exchequer, by Letters Patent for Life, which was confirmed by King R. II.

SIR William Brugges was the Person first created Gar­ter, and called in the Institution of his Office, Jartier Roy d'armys des Anglois, but elsewhere stiled Willielmus Brugges, alias Dictus, Gartier Rex Armorum. This Sir William became a great Benefactor to St. George's Church at Stamford, and in the Windows of the Chancel caused to be Represented King Edward III. with his twenty five Knights-Companions kneeling, Habited in their Mantles and Surcoats of Arms, but now much shat­tered and defaced; John Smert his Successor had this Office conferred on him by Letters Patents, under this Title Rex Armorum de Garteria, and John Wrythe was stiled [Page 209] Principalis Heraldus, & Officiarius inclyti Ordinis Garterij, Ar­morum (que) Rex Anglicorum, but Sir Gilbe rt Dethick leaving out Heraldus joyned Principalis Rex, which still con­tinues.

IN the Constitutions of his Office he is called Garterus, R [...]x Armorum Angliae, whom the Sovereign and Knights-Companions have decreed to be a Gentleman of Blood and Arms, of unspotted Reputation, and Born within the Kingdom of England; besides as King Hen. V. did before, so doth King Hen. VIII. declare that he shall be chief of all the O [...]ficers of Arms, dependant upon the Crown of England.

THE substance of his Oath administred by the Re­gister at his admission, whilst he humbly kneeleth at the Sovereign's Feet, in the Chapter House; is,

1. To yield Obedienc [...] to the Sovereign, and Knights-Com­panions.

2. To k [...]ep Silence, and not disclose the Secrets of the Order.

3. To m [...]ke signification of the Death of each Knight-Companion.

4. To execute all things fa [...]thfully committed to his Care.

5. To enquire diligently after all the noble Acts of the Knights-Companions, and certifie them to the Register.

6. To be faithful in the exercise of his Office.

AND such an Oath Sir Christopher Barker took at a Chapter held at Greenwich 28 Hen. VIII. when he was made Garter.

AS for a particular Habit, we do not find any inserted in the Great Wardrobe, whence it is presu [...]ed, he was at first distinguished from the rest of the Officers of the Order, by his Coat Embroidred with the Sove­reign's Arms, like as the Provincial King's then wore. But after the Constitutions of the Officers were Esta­b [...]ished, there was assigned him a Habit or Mantle in all respects, resembling the Register, (saving that the Ground whereon the Lyons and flower-de-luces were Embroidred, was entirely Red) and this to b [...] wore only at the publick Solemnities of the Order. Queen Mary Commanded it to be made of crimson S [...]tin, and so it remained till the Restoration, when the Colour was altered to scarlet.

[Page 210] THIS Officer is appointed to bear a white Rod or Scepter at every Feast of St. George, the Sovereign being present, gilded at both ends, and at the top the Arms of the Order impaling the Sovereign's Arms pourtray'd on an oblong Cube Crowned, but no directions are given in the Constitutions for this Crown, no [...] for that Ducal one on his Head wherewith his Effigies has been represented, and yet at all great Solemnities is never used that we can discover. There was assigned him by Queen Eliz. a Badge of Gold to be worn daily by him and his Successors, before the Breast, in a gold Chain or Ribband, and thereon Ennamelled the Sovereign's Arms, Crowned with an Imperial Crown, and both surrounded with the Garter: But Sir Edward Walker when made Garter, obtained the Sovereign's leave to Impale therein St. Georges's Arms, with those of the Sovereign's, which Badge is alike on both sides.

THERE is an House appointed for his Habitation within Windsor Castle, called Garters Tower. It was by Chapter annexed for ever to the Office of Gar­ter, and restored to Sir William Segar's Possession, 2d of May, 1630. By the Constitution of his Office, he is to be allowed Barons Service in the Sovereign's Court, and his Table Served next after the Dean of the Cha­pel, with such Liveries as of old were accustomed.

IT appears that King Hen. V. after his erecting this Office, died before he had settled a Pension upon Sir William Brugges, for supportation of his little Estate, which the Knights-Companions taking into considera­tion, and that he might more honourably comport him­self to the Service of the Order, till the young King should come to Age, they being assembled in a Chap­ter, with the consent of the Prelate, decreed the said Sir William to receive of each of them at every Feast of St. George, as is set down, viz.

• Of the Bishop of Winchester Prelate 5 Marks.
• Dukes— 5 Marks.

Of every

• Earl— 6 Nobles.
• Baron or Baronet 4 Nobles.
• Knight Batchelor 2 Nobles.

[Page 211] THE first payment was agreed to be pay'd down, and so to remain in force annually with request to the ab­sent Knights, that for the Honour of the Order, and causes in th [...] Instrument express'd, they would approve of their Ordinance which passed under the Seal of the Order, Dated at Windsor, 1422. Afterwards King Hen. VI. in consideration of his Services to his Father and himself, with consent of his Council, granted to the said Brugges, by Letters Patent, a Pension of 20 l. [...]er Annum, out of the Fee Farm of the City of Winchester during his pleasure, which Pension upon the surrender of his Patent he granted anew to him and Agne [...] his Wife, for their Lives and the longer liver of them; and when this Office upon Sir William Brugges death, was devolved on John Sm [...]rt, Guyenne herald (3 April 28 Hen. VI.) he had the yearly Sum of 20 l. granted him therewith for Life out of the Exchequer: But his Suc­cessor John Wrythe, Norroy, obtained an increase of Pension to 40 l. per Annum, made payable out of the small Cu­stoms of the City of London; this annual Sum was afterwards confirmed to Garter by the Constitution of his Office, and an Augmentation from the then Knights-Companions additional to the Pensions granted by their Predecessors, upon the Death of King Hen. V.

Of

• A Duke— 4 Pounds.
• A Marquess— 5 Marks.
• An Earl— 4 Marks.
• A Baron— 6 Nobles.
• A Knight Batchelor 4 Nobles.

IN succeeding times the Sovereign thought fit to aug­ment this Pension to 50 l. per Annum, (now payable out of the Revenue settled upon the Order,) and the Knights-Companions yet to enlarge their Sallery, which they did, (the Sovereign assenting) by the de­cree made in a Chapter held at Windsor 13, 14, and 15. Sept. An. 1617. wherein it was ordained, That their Of­ficer Sir William Segar Garter Knight, King of Arms of that Order should then, and from thenceforth have renew'd and paid unto him certain annual Fees and Pensions, anciently en­joyed by his Predecessors, with a surplus of 10 l. per Annum, which his Majesty's Act of Royal Bounty, hath given to [Page 212] his said Servant for his better support and maintenance, as also of Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, the Sum of 8 l. and of every Duke of the Blood 6 l. all other Estates, viz. a Duke not of the Blood 4 l. a Marquess 5 Marks, an Earl 4 Marks, a Viscount 7 Nobles, a Baron 40 s. and a Knight Batchelor that shall be of the Order, 26 s. 8 d. all which said Sums of Money, according to the several degrees of their Estates, are to be paid, (continues the Decree) unto the said Garter or his assigns yearly at St. Georges's Feast, or immediately after, as well by the Knights then present, as by those that shall be absent, or hereafter are to succeed in the said Order; and after the decease of the said Garter, to his Suc­cessors for ever.

AT St. Georges's Feast, Celebrated at Windsor, 22, 23, and 24 of April, Anno 15 Car. II. Sir Edward Walker then Garter, representing by Petition, that the annual Pen­sion of the installed Knights then in Arrear for one Year, amounted to 94 l. 13 s. 4 d. according to their proper proportion, the Sovereigns Share, (he being to pay for all stranger Knights) amounted at that time, to 32l. 13s. 4d. and humbly praying that his Majesty would grant to him and his Successors an 100 l. per Annum, out of the Revenue settled to the use of the Order, in lieu not only of those said Pensions, payable from the Sovereign and Knights-Companions, both Strangers and Subjects; but for resigning his Claim to his annual Pension of 50 l. in consideration for preparing Scutcheons and removal of Atchievements. This Petition the Sovereign was pleased to refer to a Committe of the Knights-Compa­nions, who, namely the Duke of Albemarl, the Earls of Lindsey, Manchester, Sandwich, and Stafford, who being attended by Garter, and weighing the event of the Petition, offered their opinions to the Sovereign, to grant him the said 100 l. per Annum in lieu of what he offered to quit, whereby the interest of this Office might be preserved in a more compendious Method than it was, his Majesty exempted from those small pay­ments for Strangers, and the Knights-Subjects themselves were discharged from their annual Pension, and his Majesty ratifying the same shortly after, Sir Henry de Vi [...], the Chancellor, was ordered to pay unto Garter, and his Successors the said annual Pension of 100 l. which was [Page 213] accordingly put in Execution, as an Equivalent for all Fees and Salaries relating to the Order of the Garter.

THE Duty of this Officer in general is, to perform, or cause to be effected all Transactions whatsoever, the Sovereign, or Prelate, or Chancellor shall enjoyn him, in relation to this Most Noble Order.

§. 5. THE fifth and last Officer is the Black-Rod. This Officer was instituted by the Founder, King Ed. III. but whether at the first Erection of the Order doth not appear. Howbeit, within a few Years after, 35 E. III. the King conferr'd to William Whitehorse, Esq; for Life, Officium Hostiarii Capellae Regis infra Castrum de Windesore, with a Fee of 12 d. a Day out of his Exchequer.

Anno 3 Hen. IV. this Office is called Officium Virgarij comitivae de la Garter infra Castrum Regis de Windesore; and under that Denomination was confirmed to Thomas Sye, with the Fees and Emoluments thereunto expressed. In the Patent to his Successor, John Athilbrigg, Ann. 1 H. 5. it is stiled, Officium Virgarij sive Ostiarij, &c. Afterwards it hath the Title, Officium Virgae-bajuli coram Rege ad festum Sancti Georgii infra Castrum Regis de Windesore. And ever since it runs in the Patents by the Appellation of Virgae-Bajulus, Virgarius, or Nigri-vergifer. But in the Constitu­tions of his Office, he hath the Title of Hostiarius; and under the restriction of these Qualifications, that he be a Gentleman of Blood and Arms, born within the So­vereigns Dominions; and if he be not a Knight at his admission into the Office, he ought then to be Knighted. As Garter was Entituled the Principal Officer of Arms, so was the Black-Rod, for the Honour of the Order, ap­pointed the Chief Usher in the Kingdom. And as he is so, and frequently called Gentleman-Usher of the Black-Rod, so we shall wave, as we did in Garter, all things appertaining to his Employments, otherwise than what directly is included in this Most Noble Order.

IN a Chapter held at Whitehall, the 13th of February, 6 Car. I. It was decreed, That the Office of the Black-Rod should from thenceforth successively, as soon as the same should become void (James Maxwell, Esq; then enjoying it) be annexed to some one of the Gentlemen-Ushers, Daily-waiters [...] whom the Sovereign should appoint.

[Page 214] THIS was carried upon the Petition of the Gentle­men-Ushers, Daily-waiters, seconded by the Lord Cham­berlain, the Earl-Marshal; and others, Knights-Com­panions; as is evident from another Petition of theirs to the Sovereign in Chapter, assembled at Oxford, the 17th of January, 20 Car. I. But some Years after this, 1642. the Lord Lanrick, Secretary for Scotland, had on Mr. Maxwell's behalf, obtained the Sovereign's Warrant for Letters-Patent under the Great-Seal, for two Lives, Maxwell's and Mr. Alexander Thayn, the longest Liver of them; whereby the said Decree was frustrate to the Gentlemen-Ushers; of which making Complaint in the last mentioned Chapter, the Sovereign and Knights-Companions (in regard this latter Grant was not only repugnant to the preceding Decree, and the Great-Seal surreptitiously gained, but ought likewise to have pas­sed the Seals of the Order) order'd Peter Newton, Esq; to be presently sworn into this Office. Nevertheless, after the Restoration, A. D. 1660. Newton being then dead, the Gentlemen-Ushers, Daily-waiters, Petition'd again, and Thayne was demanded to put in his Answer; and the result of the whole was, after mature Delibe­ration in a Chapter held at Whitehall, the 20th of Febru­ary, 13 Car II. the Decree which fix'd this Office to one of the Gentlemen-Ushers Daily-waiters, was confirmed, and John Ayton, one of the Petitioners, was sworn Gentleman-Usher of the Black-Rod, which was per­formed by the Register in the Presence of the Sovereign, the Chapter sitting.

THE Form of the Oath given to this Officer, temp. Hen. VIII. was, Truly and Faithfully to observe and keep all the Points of the Statutes of the Order as to him belonged and appertained.

HE hath the like Habit with the Register and Garter before described, but his Ensign and Badge is somewhat different from Garter's; for first, it was ordained, That he or his Deputy should carry a Black-Rod (whence he hath his Title) before the Sovereign, or his Deputy, at the Feast of St. George, within the Castle of Windsor, and at other So­lemnities and Chapters of the Order. On the Top of which there ought to be set a Lyon of England. This Rod serves instead of a Mace, and has the same Authority to [Page 215] apprehend Delinquents, and such have offended a­gainst the Statutes of this Most Noble Order. And where he apprehends any one of the Order, as Guilty of some Crime for which he is to be expell'd the Order, the manner of it is by touching them with this Black-Rod, and his Fee for it, is 5 l.

HE has assigned him a Golden Badge to be openly worn in a Gold Chain, or Ribband, before his Breast, composed of one of the Knots in the Collar of the Or­der which tye the Roses together, and encompassed with a Garter, being alike on both sides; which was conferred on him and his Successors, by Decree in Chapter, held the 24th of April, 8 Eliz.

'TIS as ancient as Hen. Vth's Reign, for there's a House in Windsor Castle granted to this Officer by Let­ters-Patent, during Life. And the same Provision is made for him by the Constitutions of his Office. It is situate on the South-side of the Castle in the middle Ward. The said Constitutions give him Baron-Service at Court, and Livery thereto appertaining; and besides these, the keeping of the said Castle, and the two Parks adjacent.

KING Charles I. having taken into his Hands the little Park of Windsor, and bestow'd it upon James Maxwell, then Usher of the Black-Rod, He, at a Chap­ter held at Whitehall, the 5th of November, 1629. de­creed, That as the Custody of the said Park was con­ferr'd on Maxwell in right of his Office; so the same should for ever after be annex'd thereto, and not to be disposed of but under the Great Seal of the Order, and that only to the Usher of the Order for the time being.

LASTLY, this Officer had anciently a Fee of 12 d. per diem, which we find continu'd down in the Letters-Patents, whereby this Office was granted. Besides which, the Constitutions of his Office allow him an annual Pension of 30 l. heretofore paid him out of the Exchequer, but by King Charles I. assigned him out of 1200 l. per Ann. settled upon the Order; touching which, and the Payment of the Officers Pensions upon the new Establishment, is the next Section.

§. 6. KING James I. taking into his Royal Breast, the Constitution of this Most Noble Order, that it was in the Nature of a Distinct Sovereignty, govern'd by Laws and Conventions proper to the Body, and him­self as Sovereign in Matters immediately relating thereunto, had the sole and uncontroulable Authority of revising, adding, or explaining; and finding that the Pensions paid to the Officers of the Order (as those to the Alms-Knights) and some other Expences, had been anciently made payable out of his Exchequer by vertue of the Great Seals of England, or otherwise by Privy-Seals; and conceiving it incongruous, that the Officers should claim their Pensions by vertue of any other Seal than that of the Order, for it is in some kind derogatory to the Honour of the Order, to per­mit other Seals to be used within the same: He there­upon with twelve Knights-Companions in a Chapter held at Whitehall, the 22d of May, 20 Jac. I. passed a Decree, That all things concerning the Order should here­after be ratify'd under the Seal of the Order only, and in par­ticular, that the Grants of poor Knights Places, after their being Signed by the Sovereign, should be passed under the Seal of the Order only, and none other. And the Year following, the Chancellor was ordered, That he should take Advice of the Sovereign's Attorney-General how by Vertue of the Seal of the Order, the Pensions, (given to the Poor Knights) might be paid and receiv'd, His Majesty's further Pleasure being, That all Grants and Payments concerning the Order, should afterwards be confirmed under the Seal of the Order only, and by Vertue thereof.

AS to the Alms-Knights Patents, this Decree was of Force and Validity, but in the other Generals, how far it was pursu'd we know not; for in some of them it grew obsolete and useless. But in a Chapter called at Windsor, the 22d of April, 10 Car. I. a Debate arose about setting a Part of the Annual Summ of 1000 l. out of the Re­ceipts of his Majesty's Exchequer, to be employ'd par­ticularly in discharge of Expences towards the Feasts of the Order, Legations to Foreign Princes, Payment of the Officers Pensions, &c. disbursed for the Necessity and Reputation of this Noble Order. Afterwards at a [Page 217] Chapter held the 18th of April, 13 Car. I. that Sove­reign ratify'd his Royal Assignation, and increased his Bounty to 1200 l. per Ann. setling it for those designs in a Perpetuity for ever, and making it payable out of the Customs in the Port of London, but to be received by the Chancellor of the Order for the time being, as Trea­surer of this Money, of which he was to give up an Ac­count to the Sovereign and Knights-Companions yearly at St. George's Feast. And in pursuance of this Ratification, the Attorney-General had Instructions to draw up a Book for his Royal Signature to Warrant its passing under the Great Seal of England, which was dispatch'd, the Let­ters-Patent bearing teste at Westminster, the 23d of Janu­ary, 13 Car. I. Immediately after, Sir Thomas Rowe, the Chancellor of the Order, presented a List of the ordinary Fees and Charges of the Order, upon which it was a­greed to, That there should issue out a standing Commission to the Chancellor under the Great Seal of the Order to warrant the Yearly Payments, and he to be discharged according as the said Patent had provided. This Commission passing the Great Seal the 3d of May, 14 Car. I. the Sovereign there­by impower'd the Chancellor to make payable out of the yearly Revenue of 1200 l. all and every the yearly Fees, Pensions, Salaries, and other Payments due and payable to the Officers of the Order, Alms-Knights, or others, appertaining to the Order, either by Charter, Grant, or Assignation under the Seal and Signet of the Order, or by any other Lawful way whatsoever, and in particular,

AND Sir Thomas Rowe, and in his Absence beyond Sea, Sir James Palmer, Deputy-Chancellor receiv'd out of the Sovereigns Receipts of Subsidies, Customs and Imposts, [Page 218] the 1200 l. per Ann. out of which they paid the Annual Pensions above-named, under the Title of certain and ordinary Charges, as also such as come within the Denomi­nation of Accidental and Extraordinary Expences; of which kind in their time, were,

• Mantles, when the Sovereigns pleas'd to bestow them on the Knights-Com [...]a [...]ions.
• Plate for the Altar in St. George's Chappel at Windsor.
• Embroidery of the Purse for holding the Seals.
• Removal of Atchievements and Plates against Installations.
• Escutcheons set up at St. George's Feast.
• Privy Seals and Fees disburst for receiving the 1200 l. per Annum.
• Fees for Installation of Foreign Princes and Stranger-Knights.
• Parchment used in Dispensations and Prorogations.
• Blue Wax for the Sea [...]s of the Order.

BY which we are easily inform'd, what ought to be accounted extraordinary Expences, towards the Dis­charge whereof this Sum was to be employ'd as far as it would reach, to mitigate the Cost the great Wardrobe formerly stood taxed with, Provisions of the Order, both for foreign Embassies and Expences at Home.

THE Manner of the Chancellor's passing his Account, as directed by the said Commission, was thus done by Sir James Palmer, He humbly moved the Sovereign in Chapter held the 10th of October, 15 Car. I. That it would please him to view the Disbursements made for the Expences of the Order, which thereupon being Ex­amined by the Knights in the Sovereign's Presence, the same were found agreeable to the Directions of the Com­mission, and the Payments justify'd by the Acquittance of every Officer to whom any Fee was due, no Payment ha­ving been made without the Sovereign's Hand first to Au­thorize it: Allwhich being seen and allow'd, the Account (wherein his Disbursements exceeded his Receipts 37 l. 13 s. 10 s.) was esteemed Equitable and Just, and passed by the Subscription of Charles then Prince of Wales, the Earls of Pembroke and Montgomery, Salisbury, Holland [...]rk-shire, Duke Hamilton, and the Earl of Northumberland.

§. 7. THE Executions of these Offices is the last thing here to be described: For tho' all the Officers are strictly obliged to give personal Attendance to their Offices; yet, in case of Sickness, Absence out of the Kingdom, or other emergent Reasons, the Sovereign is pleased to dispence with them, and constitute others to Officiate in their stead, who on such Occasions wear the Robe of that Officer whom they represent, so in case of Vacancy, the Absence of the Prelate at the Grand Feast celebrated at Windsor, 31 Hen. VI. is noted in the Black Book to have been upon just Cause, and the Bishop of Bangor officiated Divine Service, and next Morning ce­lebrated the Mass pro defunctis. The following Year, his Place in these religious Duties was supply'd by the Bishop of Salisbury, as Ann. 36 and 37 Hen. VI. and at all times of the Prelates absence, the Sovereign hath made known his Will what Bishop should supply for him. The Office of Chancellor hath been executed by Proxies, and to this may first be referred a Passage in the Black Book, where Dr. Taylor hath the Title of Vice-Chancellor. Of later times, when Sir Thomas Rowe was employ'd in an Embassy into Germany, Sir James Pal­mer, Kt. (one of the Gentlemen-Ushers of the Privy-Chamber) was deputed by the Sovereign to the Chan­cellor-ship during his Absence, having the Purse with the Seals deliver'd to him the 4th of May, 14 Car. I. be­ing sworn by the Register of the Order durante deputatione & beneplacito Regis, which Clause was likewise annex'd in the Deputy Chancellor's Oath, 12 Car. II. Upon Sir Thomas Rowe's return, and indisposition, 16 Car. I. Sir James was again deputed Chancellor, and a third time, 18 Car. I. continu'd Deputy Chancellor unto the Death of Sir Thomas Rowe, of which the Sovereign being inform'd at Oxford, 1644. reserved the disposal of this Office 'till Sir James's return to Court, and then commanded him to wear the Badge and Ribband about his Neck, 'till a Chapter of the Order compleated his admittance.

IN the Vacancy of the Register-ship, Ann. 2 H. VIII. Thomas Ruthall Bishop of Durham, supply'd it: And Ann. 18 and 19 Eliz. Dr. Day, Dean of Windsor, execu­ted the Office, and attended at the Feasts of St. George, [Page 220] as Deputy-Register; Dr. George Carew then Register, having Licence by his Patent to execute it by himself or Deputy, being dispenc'd with by the Queen in case of Sickness, or other Impediment. After his Decease, Dean Day was commanded to execute the Office during its Vacancy (being 14 Years) which he effected 'till he was advanced to the Bishoprick of Winchester, An. 38 Eliz. upon which, Dr. Robert Bennet (who succeeded him in his Deanry) was the same Year admitted Register. Afterwards, Dr. Beaumont, being much broken with Age, and other Diseases, Dr. John King, the junior Canon, supplied his Place.

THE Office of Garter hath been supplied by Depu­tation: For in those Embassies with the Ensigns of the Order to Foreign Princes, where special Occasions de­tained Garter at home, some of the Kings or Heralds of Arms, have been order'd upon those Employments, upon the Recommendation of Garter to the Sovereign; where of there are several Instances; the last of Gregory King, Esq. Lancaster-Herald, who lately carried over the Habit to the Elector of Hanover. So also in case of Vacancy; for we find that Clarencieux, King of Arms, executed this Office after Sir Gilbert Dethick's Death, in January, 27 Eliz. being then sent with the Earl of Darby to the French King Henry III. As also in Reference to the Preparations the 15th of April following, and Ser­vice performed thereat, and at the Feast of St. George ensuing.

THE Constitution of the Office of Black-Rod admit of a Deputy to bear the Rod before the Sovereign, where a lawful Occasion impedes his personal Service. And Sir Peter Young, (Chief Gentleman Usher,) performed this Office at the Feast of St. George held at Windsor Ann. 6 Car. I. James Maxwell, Esq. Black-Rod, was in France upon the Sovereign's Service; and after, being Mission'd by the King into Scotland, Peter Newton, Esq [...] supplied his Place at the Feast at Windsor, 8th, 9th, an [...] 10th of October, Anno 15 Car. I.

§. 1. WE come now to treat of the Election of a Knight into the Order, according to the Statutes of Institution, which Or­dains, That whensoever any Knight-Companion hap­pens to depart this Life, The Sovereign (or his Deputy) after certain Notice had thereof, should forthwith by his Let­ters, Summon all the Knights-Companions then within the Realm (who were able to come) to meet him within six Weeks after such Notice, in what convenient Place soever he pleased to assign for the Electing a new Companion into the Society. Thus did the Law of this Most Noble Order, in case of Death, and to prevent Vacancies, at first provide; wherewith we evidently find the Practice of elder Times did pun­ctually concur: For as soon as Garter, in Discharge of his Duty, had made Certificate to the Sovereign of a Knight-Companion's Decease, or otherwise to the Re­gister of the Order, all fitting Diligence was used to fill up the vacant Stall, within the Space limited by this Statute, or immediately after, and for the quicker Dis­patch, Letters of Summons were issued to the Knights-Companions, to give personal Attendance at the Election. In an ancient one upon the Death of Sir Henry Fitz Hugh, Knight-Companion, Temp. Henry V. these particulars were no less pursuant to the Statutes, than worthy Ob­servation.

AND generally of these Topicks, and to this Purport were the Letters of Summons in succeeding times com­posed.

THE before-mention'd Branch of the Statutes of In­stitution hath been sufficiently enforced by Incorpora­ting it into the Statutes, temp. H. V. and H. VIII. no [...] hath it since undergone any Alteration; howbeit some further Addition and Explanation were annexed to them, 21 Jac. I. at a Chapter held at Windsor the 24th of April that year, where it was decreed, That the So­vereign being advertised of the Death of a Knight-Companion, the Knights-Companions remaining at Court should move him to declare his Pleasure whether h [...] would that Letters should be sent to all the Knights-Companions within the Realm to attend his Person for the Choice of a new Knight, at a Day by the said Sovereign appointed, according to the ancient Statutes of the Order, or be pleas'd to def [...]r the Election until the Feast of St. George, at what time Elections have been most usually made; and according as he resolv'd in what Place it should be, so it ought (by Letters directed to the Knights-Companions within the Realm) to [...] made known unto them.

This Deferring, or Prorogation of the Election, was no new thing, tho' not indulged by the Statutes, or de­clared Law, before this 21 Jac. 1. as is evident by the Letter of Summons sent after the Death of Sir Robert D'U [...]frevil, Knight Companion, temp. H. 4. wherein Notice [Page 227] is taken of the Limitation given by the Statutes, af­ter Certificate of Death, viz. Six Weeks, within the Space whereof a new Election was to commence; yet where a Chapter for Election could not conveniently be summo­ned within that limited Time, it was sufficient if the Soveraign declared as he did in the said Placart and entered in the Black Book, That being then involved in other Business, he could not well attend this Affair, and there­fore deferr'd the time for Election, unto the Eve of St. George next following.

But of later Date, this formal Way of Summons by Letter, hath been discontinued, and only remained to such as are remote, and warned only by a verbal Message. For the Chancellor of the Order having consulted the Soveraign's Pleasure, as to the Day and Place, usually acquaints Garter therewith, who thereupon goes imme­diately to the Knights Companions then at Court, and desires their Attendance at the Chapter, according to the Soveraign's Designation.

And here it is to be remarked, that no Knight Elect ought to be summoned to a Chapter of Election, or are rendered sufficient of giving their Votes therein, until they be compleatly installed, either in Person, or by Proxy. Nor indeed did any Necessity intervene, or re­quire it till the late rebellious times, when the Castle of Windsor being Garrison'd by the Parliament's Forces, it was not possible for the Duke of York and Prince Rupert, to take Possession of their Stalls, as the Law of the Or­der enjoined. Therefore the then Soveraign, whose Right it is, did, 17 Jan. 1644, dispense with their In­stallations in St. George's Chapel, for the present, and invested them with the Privileges of the Order, among which the Power of voting in Chapter, was one: Pro­vided those Princes should first take the Oath given at Installations, and afterwards perform the accustomed Ceremonies, so soon as it should be thought convenient, and the Castle was restored to the Possession of his Ma­jesty. In compliance to which Proviso they both then took the Oath, and on the Eve of the first F [...]ast of St. George after the Restoration, the Duke was installed; and on the Eve of the second Feast, 15 Car. 2. by the [Page 228] Earls of Northumberland and Berk-shire; and the Prince by the Duke of Albemarle and Earl of Linds [...]y.

§. 2. The Place of Election.] BUT at what time soever the Ceremony of Election is purposed, the same ought to be Celebrated in Chapter, (for so is the Assembly of the Sovereign and Knights-Companions call'd, where or whensoever conven'd) whether at the Solemnity of St. George's Feast, the ordinary or most accustom'd Time, or on other Days specially set apart by the Sovereign; and when the Sovereign thinks fitting in the Interval of Feasts, to elect any Foreign Prince or other Person, Stranger or Subject, h [...] often transacts it in peculiar Chapters called to that purpose, and then appoints both Day and Place, having that Prerogative. Some few Examples both of pristine, and of late Time, make it manifest and apparent.

BUT for the most Part since the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, Whitehall, the Sovereign's almost con­stant Court and Abode, hath been the usual Place whereunto all the Knights Companions have been spe­cially Summon'd, and peculiar Chapters assembl'd for Ele [...]tion in the Intervals between the Vacancy and St. George's Feast. However, while King Charles II. was in Exile, and wanted the compleat Number of Knights to constitute a full Chapter, he was necessitated not only to dispence with the Ceremony of Election in Chapter, but also in supplying the Defect of a Scrutiny, by making his own Election; yet after his Restoration, Whitehall recover'd her wonted Honour, and April the 1st. 13 Car. II. at a Chapter call'd and held in the Bed-Chamber there, the Duke of Richmond, the Earls of Lindsey, Man­chester, and Strafford were elected.

§. 3. IN the next Place we are to consider what Num­ber of Knights-Companions ought to be assembl'd to make up a compleat Chapter of Election.

BY the Statutes, there should be Six in Number at the least, besides the Sovereign or his Deputy; the due observance of which hath been so strict formerly that Elections have been deferr'd where Chapters have been deficient in that Number; for Proof of which, the Duke of Gloucester, Ann. 9 Hen. VI. then Deputy to the Sovereign (at that Time in France) for Celebrating the Feast of St. George at Windsor, forbore to proceed to Election, [Page 230] b [...]cause the Number of Knights-Companions the [...] assembled was less than the Statutes requir'd. And Ann. 10 Hen. V. no Election was Solemniz'd, tho' one Stall was void by the Death of the Lord Clifford, and probably for that reason; for the Ear [...] of Bedford, then the Sove­reign's Deputy, had but three Knights present with him. Ann. 22, or rather 23. Humphry Duke of Bucks being deputed to celebrate the Feast of St. George at Windsor [...] altho' there was at that Time four Stalls vacant, yet did no Nomination pass; one reason, because there was not pres [...]nt a sufficient Number to compleat the Election. So when the same King celebrated the Grand Feast per­sonally at Windsor, Anno 31. Regni sui, having but three Knights attending him thereat, the Election was Pro­rogu'd for the very same Reason; in like manner 32, 33 and 34 Hen. VI. the Elections were retarded, for at the first of them there were present but two Knights-Com­panions, besides the Sovereign's Deputy; and a [...] the Two last but four, besides the Sovereign, tho' the [...]e­gistrum Cartaceum, Ann. 33. names five by adding the Duke of Somerset. At the Feast of St. Geo [...]ge celebrated at Windsor, A. D. 1471. Temp. Edw. IV. the Sovereign fully resolving to Constitute an Election, and having but five Knights-Companions present, Calys, Pursuivant at Arms, was dispatch'd to London for Sir John Astl [...]y to repair thither and compleat the Chapter, rather than violate the Laws of the Order. January the 31st. 21 Car. II. being design'd for the Election of Christopher Duke of Albemarle, and there being Conven'd but five Knights at the Chapter, the Election was put off 'till the Third of February following, at which Time a proportionable Number of Knights being present, his Election receiv'd their Approbation.