of Shrewsbury but this Error peradventure arose for want of due information either of the Law in the Statutes or his Degree the later of which is more probably true for being a Stranger his Title of Earl might not be so generally known nor is it taken notice of in the Scruteny it self though in the Annals immediately after And which is more apparent the Earl of Oxford Devonshire and Arundel whose degrees were sufficiently known at a Scruteny taken an 24. H. 6. are once ranked in the second division among the Barons and an 1. H. 8. the Earl of Derby is three times so placed and again an 13. H. 6. the Earl of Devonshire twice But this hapned not through any oversight or neglect in observation of the Statutes in this particular but because at these Nominations wherein they are so placed the first division to which they belonged hapned to be fill'd up with those other higher degrees appertaining to the same Classis that is to say Kings or Dukes as when the before mentioned Earls of Oxford Devonshire and Arundel were named in the place of Barons the King of Portugal the Dukes of Warwick and Norfolk were set down in the place of Princes and so it fell out in like manner in the other instances On the contrary an 15. and 16. E. 4. the Lord Richard Grey one of the Queens Sons by her former Husband Sir Iohn Grey of Groby Knight in respect of his alliance to the Royal Family is ranked in the first Division among the Princes under this Title Dominus Richardus filius Reginae and afterwards an 19. of the same King set only among the Barons as well with the former Title as this Ricardus Dominus Grey But in the 22. of the same King he is thrice registred among the Princes and as often with the Barons whence we see that sometimes the place among Princes may be afforded of courtesie to Persons of most eminent Relation but then again as it is not their due so such of the Knights-Companions as rank them lower pass no diminution on their honor Within the second Division are placed Barons and Viscounts for Viscounts were in all Scrutenies after the first Erection of that Dignity ranked with Barons until the 3. of King Iames saving only Iohn Dudley Viscount Lisle an 35. H. 8. who by every Knight the Duke of Norfolk excepted is ranked in the first Division with the Princes and in a Scruteny then taken Robert Cecil Viscount Cranborne is the second Viscount that we observe to have been ranked with Princes from whence it became usual so to do in succeeding Scrutenies until an 14. Car. 1. and then upon a question put in Chapter held at Westminster the 23. Maii anno praedicto whether Earls Sons and Viscounts were elegible with Barons it was resolved they were and that by all practice except in the two cases now mentioned it was usually done and it seems so again observed neer that time for in two Scrutenies taken the 19. and 21. of that instant May the Viscounts are therein reduced to the second Division and ranked with Barons Finally in the third Division the Knights-Batchellors receive their place so also did Banerets until King Henry the Eighth in his Body of Statutes gave them equal rank in Scrutenies with Barons Only in that one Scruteny taken an 14. H. 7. Sir Reignald Bray Sir Richard Gouldford and Sir Rice ap Thomas all three created Banerets at the Battel of Black-heath are registred among the Barons and yet two of them are oftner ranked with the Knights-Batchellors in the very same Scruteny But though the word in King Henry the Eighth's Latin Statutes is Baronettus instead of Banerettus yet is this a mistake met with anciently in some both Records and Books as well as in those places of the Annals all written long before the Title of Baronet was conceived or the Dignity in use with us for the first Creation of that hapned but in this last Age. And hereof more satisfaction may be received elsewhere In the last place he who demands these Suffrages given according to the judgment of each Knight-Companion present is by the Statutes of Institution appointed to take them in writing In pursuance of which we find it so observed at a Scruteny taken an 2. H. 6. for the Election of Iohn Lord Talbot and Furnivall afterwards created Earl of Shrewsbury where the Dean of Windesor and the Register of the Order wrote down the Votes and Nominations of every one of the Knights present at the day of Election Again at a Scruteny made an 4. H. 6. so also at sundry other times to supply the Stall of Ralph Earl of Westmerland then lately deceased for whom mistakingly the Black Book of the Order sets down Sir Henry Fitz. Hugh in whose room a little before in the same Book an 3. H. 6. it appears the Lord Scales was Elected and elsewhere that Sir Iohn Fastolse was chosen a Companion of this most Noble Order upon the death not of Sir Henry Fitz. Hugh but of the said Earl of Westmerland we find it noted that the Dean and Register wrote down in order according to their seniority the Votes of the Knights-Companions And after the Scrutenies began to be entred on the Pages of the Annals it is evident the general practice hath gone along with the Injunction of the Statutes only there are two Instances of an Election made without taking a Scruteny in writing one in the case of Prince Henry and Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark where the Knights-Companions in a Chapter held at Whitehall the 14. of Iuly an Iacobi Regis primo gave their Votes Viva Voce and forthwith the Soveraign Elected them both into the Fellowship of the Order The other was the case of Iames Marquess Hamilton Elected the 2. of February in the 20. year of the same King with the vocal consent of all the Knights-Companions present But it is to be considered that this course and the omission of taking the Scruteny in writing is not only contrary to the Law of the Order so enjoined for a more certain memorial of the action and more faithful transmission of it to Posterity but exceeding prejudicial to persons of Honor and Merit whose Names would otherwise live with great reputation among the Candidates of this Illustrious Order and of which honor many deserving persons will be hereafter deprived if the Injunction of the Statutes be not observed in this particular SECT XI The Presentation of it to the Soveraign THE Suffrages being recieved from the Knights-Companions the Officer by whom they are collected is to present the whole form of the Nominations to the Soveraign with all due Reverence for so is it recorded an 9. H. 5. when the Prelate of the Order had taken the Scruteny If these Votes were taken
the chief and most considerable particulars and sufficiently manifest that the usage and practice down to the Reign of King Henry the Eighth was pursuant to the ancient Law of the Order But we are here to note that notwithstanding each Knight was by the before mentioned Article appointed to succeed his immediate Predecessor in the Stall void by his death yet doth there follow an Exception as to the Stall belonging to the Prince of Wales This Stall is the first on the left hand at the entrance into the Choire of St. George's Chappel at Windesor and wherein Edward the Black Prince was Installed from this Stall doth the whole range of Stalls on the same side take their denomination and to which the Prince of Wales assoon as he is Elected into the Order hath a due Title But though this Stall de jure belongs to the Prince of Wales nevertheless heretofore when the Soveraign had no Heir then was it for the present disposed of otherwise a defect in the full number of Knights-Companions would have ensued to some other Knight who received the honor of Installation therein The first that obtained that honor besides Princes of Wales was Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster it being conferr'd on him by Decree of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions Richard the Second having no issue neither then nor afterwards and thereupon removed thither from the seventh Stall on the same side wherein he had been installed at his first admission into the Order But the first Knight-Companion that hapned to be installed in it was Sir Philip lâ— Vache a little before remembred and a very great honor it was for one of his rank But it fell to him by the then Law of the Order being elected into the room of the said Duke of Lancaster who dyed possest thereof Howbeit shortly after such was the change of times King Henry the Fourth coming to the Crown and his eldest Son being created Prince of Wales laid then claim to this Stall by virtue of the foresaid Statute and had it surrendred to him Nevertheless that the former possessor might suffer as little deminution in the honor of his Session as might be he was removed no lower than to the Stall which King Henry the Fourth lately held when Earl of Derby viz. the third on the Soveraign's side and had now relinquished for the Soveraign's royal Stall Upon the death of King Henry the Fourth and removal of King Henry the Fifth from the Princes Stall whereby a vacancy therein ensued to the Soveraign's Seat Sir Iohn Dabrichcourt Elected an 1. H. 5. was Installed therein and he an 5. of the same King dying possest thereof of which a notable testimony remains by the continuance of his Plate in that Stall to this day and the Soveraign yet unmarried the Emperor Sigismond became the next Successor to Sir Iohn Dabrichcourt both into the Society of the Order and the Princes Stall He dying Albert Duke of Austria afterwards Emperor there being hitherto no Prince born was Elected in his room an 16. H. 6. but this Emperor was never Installed and thereupon during his life neer 20. years after his Election the Princes Stall was not otherwise disposed of but remained vacant and so is it noted in several Pages of the Black Book But some few years before King Henry the Sixth dyed he had a Son born to wit in the 32. year of his Reign in which regard though the Emperor Frederick was Elected into the Order an 35. H. 6. upon the death of Albert yet was the said Stall reserved for the Prince but he never possest it and the Emperor an 37. H. 6. Installed by Proxy in the Duke of Somersets Stall then lately deceased being the eighth on the Princes side In King Edward the Fourth's Reign we find the right in this Stall returned again to Edward Prince of Wales his eldest Son and in King Henry the Seventh's Reign to Prince Arthur but upon his death Maximilian Son of Frederick King of the Romans and after Emperor sat therein So also did the Emperor Charles the Fifth his Grandchild in regard that as yet there was no Son born to the Soveraign But Prince Edward being born while this Stall was possest by Charles the Fifth it hapned also that the King of Scots dyed which caused King Henry the Eight to reserve his Stall the third on the Soveraign's side for the Prince albeit he never had possession of it nor was ever Elected into the Order though we find him once registred in a Scruteny And King Henry the Eighth dying Prince Edward became both by inheritance and succession Soveraign of this most Noble Order by virtue of the first Article of the Statutes not needing any Ceremony to make him so From this time to the eighth year of King Iames there was no Prince of Wales which King finding the Princes Stall void at his entrance upon the English Throne did in a Chapter held the 3. of Iuly an 1. Iac. Regis advance the French King Henry the Fourth from the second Stall on the Soveraign's side into it and appointed Prince Henry to be Installed in that Kings void seat where he remained till an 3. Iacobi that Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark came to be Installed by his Proxy to make way for whom the Prince though his Senior both by Election and Installation was removed yet lower viz. to the second Stall on the Princes side and the said King Installed in the Seat which Prince Henry had to that time possest And yet an 9. Iac. R. upon the death of the foresaid French King not the Prince as was his right since now he was created Prince of Wales but the said King of Denmark was translated to the Princes vacant Stall hereupon Prince Henry was returned again to the second Stall on the Soveraign's side which he enjoyed while he lived and upon his death Prince Charles was removed into it an 11. Iac. R. and there rested all King Iames his Reign In like manner when the present Soveraign came to be Installed the then Soveraign finding him prevented for assuming the Princes Stall the foresaid King of Denmark yet living assigned to him the second Stall on the Soveraign's side wherein himself sat while Prince of Wales and where hitherto the present Soveraign's Plate remains fixt as a memorial of his Installation therein Albeit as hath been before cleered that the Knights-Companions at their Election or Installation succeeded the immediate defunct Knight in his Stall yet do we also observe that somtimes after Installation as an especial mark of favour and indulgence the Soveraign hath been pleased though but seldom and rarely to advance a Knight-Companion to a higher Stall when it became vacant then that wherein he was at first Installed And though there be no such liberty given by the Law of the Order nevertheless in the first Precedent very
early after the Institution in the case of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who as is before noted was removed from the seventh Stall on the Princes side wherein he was first placed to the Princes Stall it self this act is said to be done by the decree of the Soveraign and Knights-Companions and no doubt but as this was done by so good authority so upon no less inducements to the Soveraign and whole Society But there are few of these extraordinary cases which taking up little time we will remember here William of Henalt Earl of Ostervant was advanced by King Richard the Second from the eleventh Stall on the Soveraign's side to the Duke of Britains Stall it being the second on the Princes side Next Humfry Duke of Gloucester in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth having been first installed in the eleventh Stall on the Soveraign's side was when he came to be Lord Protector removed to the second Stall on the same side Afterward Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick by the consent of the Knights-Companions in Chapter an 39. H. 6. was translated to the Duke of Buckingham's Stall the Lord Bonvill to the Lord Scales his Seat Sir Thomas Kyriell to the place of the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Lord Wenlock to the Stall of Viscount Beaumont And lastly Ferdinand King of Naples and Sicily was removed to the third Stall on the Soveraign's side after he had been installed in the third on the Princes side yet this was an advance of so little honor as it is scarce worth taking notice of being but the very next above that wherein he was first Installed But King Henry the Eighth thinking it requisite for the Soveraigns of this most Noble Order to be impowered by a general Law to do that at pleasure which the former Soveraign's did not but by the power of particular Acts or Orders in Chapter after he had confirmed the ancient Law of succeeding in the Stall of the immediate Predecessor not to be changed without the Soveraign's License nevertheless excepting Strangers he in the next succeeding Article established this Priviledge upon Himself and Successors That if there were any Place or Stall void the Soveraign at his own pleasure might advance and translate any Knight of the Society into the void Stall so that it were higher than that wherein he sat before This in effect did vacat the ancient Law of succeeding in Stalls by him seemingly confirm'd to Knights-Subjects for afterward Translations preceding to Installations became so frequent that the right an Elect-Knight had to his Predecessors Stall was seldom enjoyed Howbeit hereby he setled a power to gratifie and oblige such of the Knights-Companions as should be thought worthy the honor of advancing without recourse had to a Chapter for a special and particular allowance and from hence the Custom began to issue out Warrants under the Soveraign's Sign manual for the Translation of Stalls some convenient time before the day of Installation approched and consequently the alteration and removal of such of the Knights-Companions Helms Crests Banners and Plates who should receive the honor of a higher Place their Atchievements being by virtue of such Warrants set up over the Stalls to which they were advanced there to remain during the time their owners continued therein And now that we may see in what manner King Henry the Eighth made use of the powers and priviledges setled by the foresaid Articles both as to the removal of Stalls and doing it by special Warrant which is Garters discharge we shall exhibit a few Examples first shewing in what order the Stalls were ranked shortly after passing this Law that by comparing some following years with these Schemes the alteration may with greater readiness be discerned Knights of the Order of the Garter as they stood ranked in their Stalls Anno 17. H. 8. The Soveraign's side The Princes side 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor Charles the Fifth 2. Duke of Richmond 2. Archduke of Austria 3. Marquess Dorset 3. Duke of Norfolk 4. Marquess of Exceter 4. Earl of Northumberland 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Duke of Suffolk 6. Earl of Essex 6. Earl of Arundel 7. Earl of Worcester 7. Viscount Lisle 8. Viscount Fitz Walter 8. Lord Bergaveny 9. Lord Dacre 9. Lord Ferrars 10. Lord Dudley 10. Lord Darcy 11. Earl of Westmerland 11. Lord La Ware 12. Earl of Rutland 12. Lord Sandys 13. Viscount Rocheford 13. Sir Richard Wingfield Knights of the Order of the Garter as they stood ranked in their Stalls Anno 18. H. 8. 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor Charles the Fifth 2. Duke of Richmond 2. Archduke of Austria 3. Marquess Dorset 3. Duke of Norfolk 4. Marquess of Exceter 4. Earl of Northumberland 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Duke of Suffolk 6. Earl of â—ssex 6. Earl of Arundel 7. Earl of Westmerland 7. Viscount Lisle 8. Viscount Fitz-Walter 8. Lord Bergaveny 9. Earl of Rutland 9. Lord Ferrars 10. Lord Dudley 10. Lord Darcy 11. Void 11. Viscount Rochford 12. Lord Mountjoy 12. Lord Sandys 13. Sir William Fitz Williams 13. Sir Henry Guldeford In the latter of these two Schemes drawn for the Translation of Stalls an 18. H. 8. it may be observ'd first that on the Soveraign's side the Earl of Westmerland was advanced from the eleventh Stall to the seventh being void by the death of the Earl of Worcester The Earl of Rutland from the twelfth to the ninth that being also void by the Lord Dacres death then Viscount Rochford from the thirteenth Stall to the eleventh on the Princess side where the Lord La Ware lately sat but then also deceased And lastly the three newly Elect Knights were thus disposed of at their Installation first the Lord Montjoy into the twelfth Stall then lately void by the removal of the Earl of Rutland next Sir William Fitz Williams into the thirteenth Stall from whence Viscount Rochford was removed and lastly Sir Henry Guldeford into that void by the death of Sir Richard Wingfield viz. the thirteenth on the Princes side but the Stall from whence the Earl of Westmerland was removed remained yet void An appointment for the Translation of Stalls upon admission of Francis the French King An. 19. H. 8. 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor 2. The French King 2. The King of Bohemia 3. Duke of Richmond 3. Duke of Norfolk 4. Marquess of Exceter 4. Marquess Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Duke of Suffolk 6. Earl of Essex 6. Earl of Arundel 7. Earl of Westmerland 7. Viscount Lisle 8. Viscount Fitz Walter 8. Lord Bergaveny 9. Earl of Rutland 9. Lord Ferrars 10. Lord Dudley 10. Lord Darcy 11. Earl of Oxenford 11. Viscount Rochford 12. Lord Mountjoy 12. Lord Sandys 13. Sir William Fitz Williams 13. Sir Henry Guildford The setlement of Stalls made the 26. of Ianuary in the following year affords us these observations First by reason of the French King Election which past the
Mountagu 11. The Lord Robert Dudley 12. The Earl of Northumberland 12. The Earl of Warwick 13. Void 13. The Lord Hunsdon The 14. of May following being appointed for the Installation of Francis Earl of Bedford and Sir Henry Sidney Elected at the same time with the French King the Stalls were removed by the Soveraign's appointment and setled in the following order Elizabeth R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The Emperor Ferdinand 2. The King of Spain 2. Void 3. The Duke of Savoy 3. The Constable of France 4. The Earl of Arundel 4. The Duke of Holstein 5. The Marquess of Winchester 5. The Earl of Derby 6. The Earl of Penbroke 6. The Duke of Norfolk 7. The Lord Clynton 7. The Marquess of Northampton 8. The Lord Effingham 8. The Earl of Sussex 9. The Earl of Shrewsbury 9. The Lord Hastings 10. The Viscount Mountagu 10. The Lord Robert Dudley 11. The Earl of Northumberland 11. The Earl of Warwick 12. The Lord Hunsdon 12. The Earl of Bedford 13. Void 13. Sir Henry Sidney Where beside the translation of the Stranger Princes whom we shall mention a little below we see the Marquess of Winchester the Earls of Derby and Penbroke the Duke of Norfolk and the Lord Clynton were each of them seated in the next lower Stall to that they enjoyed before And by the advancement of the Lord Effingham Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Mountagu and Earl of Northumberland each a Stall higher on the Soveraign's side and the like advance of the Earl of Sussex Lord Hastings Lord Dudley and Earl of Warwick on the Princes side the eighth Stall on the Soveraign's side and that opposite thereunto on the Princes were now filled up The Lord Hunsdon was likewise advanced from the lowest Stall on the Princes side to the twelfth on the Soveraign's and lastly the two Elect-Knights were installed in the twelfth and thirteenth Stall on the Prince's side Beside the power established upon the Soveraign's of this most Noble Order of translating Stalls when a vacancy hapned King Henry the Eighth further added this larger Prerogative That the Soveraign once in his life might if it pleased him make a general Translation of all the Stalls at his pleasure except of Emperors Kings Princes and Dukes who being setled in Stalls agreeable to their Dignities should keep their Stalls and Places if such a general Translation happened unless advanced to a higher Room and Stall In which Translation the long continuance in the Order and the praises worthiness and merits of the Knights-Companions were to be considered and remembred But this branch of the Soveraign's Prerogative in the Order was never yet made use of as we can find though that Translation an 27. H. 8. came somthing neer it perhaps lest it might raise too great animosities among the Knights Subjects forasmuch as that of translating only when there hapned a vacancy Begot great emulations which at length introduced an alteration and to which we shall pass after we have taken notice of a Clause added in the 22. Article of King Henry the Eighth's Statutes relating to Stranger Princes Here therefore it is to be observed that the ancient Law of succeeding in Stalls was also in relation to them whollyaltered For King Henry the Eighth upon the establishment of his Body of Statutes not only appointed those Strangers then present of the Order to be seated next himself but that all Emperors Kings and Princes should hold their Stalls after their Estates and the very next unto the Soveraign though Knights-Subjects upon vacancy became removeable at pleasure Hereupon the Emperor Maximilian the Second and after him Rudolph the Second his Son had the Princes Stall assigned them after their Election into the Order The French Kings Francis the First Henry the Second Charles the Ninth Henry the Third and Henry the Fourth were Installed in the next below being the second on the Soveraign's side And when there were more then one King at a time in the Order the second Stall on the Prince's side was assigned to him of whom the former had precedency allowed him in relation to his State and Dignity not of antiquity in the Order as it was by the King of Bohemia an 19. H. 8. The King of Spain an 8. Eliz. So also upon the same Rule and for the same Reason was somtimes the third Stall on the Soveraign's side possest by Kings as in the cases of Iames the Fifth King of Scotland an 27. H. 8. and Frederick the Third King of Denmark an 25. Eliz. And lastly we find that Princes Strangers were placed next to Kings according to their state as were the Dukes of Savoy Montmorency and Holstein an 3. Eliz. Iohn Casimire Count Palatine of the Rhine an 25. Eliz. and Frederick Prince Palatine and Maurice Prince of Orange an 11. Iac. Regis But notwithstanding these Assignments of Stalls to Strangers they were nevertheless subject to removal somtime to Stalls higher than their own upon the death of a Stranger who died possest of a superior Stall and somtimes again to others lower for the advancing a Knight of greater dignity where the upper Stalls were already fill'd else could they not be placed or hold their Stalls according to their respective States as the Statute doth enjoin nor indeed would any Stranger King since the ancient manner of succeeding in Stalls received alteration have accepted of Election into the Order unless room had been made to seat him in a Stall sutable to his Dignity Instances of Advancement in translation of Stalls are of Ferdinand Emperor of Germany who after the death of the Emperor Charles the Fifth his Brother was advanced from the second Stall on the Prince's side into the Prince's Stall an 1. Eliz. Of Philip the Second King of Spain advanced from the second on the Prince's side to the second on the Soveraign's an 2. Eliz. after the death of the French King Henry the Second Of Henry the Fourth of France advanced from the second on the Soveraign's side to the Prince's Stall an 1. Iac. R. Of Christerne the Fourth King of Denmark an 9. Iac. R. from the second on the Soveraign's side to the said Princes Stall after the death of the French King Henry the Fourth And of Christierne the Fifth King of Denmark advanced from the fourth Stall on the Prince's side to the second on the Soveraign's an 22. Car. 2. Among the Princes Strangers we find Emanuel Duke of Savoy advanced from the third on the Prince's side to the second of the same side an 2. Eliz. Iohn Casimire Count Palatine from the fourth on the Soveraign's side to the third on the â—rince's an 32. Eliz. four years after the Duke of Holstein's death Frederick Prince Palatine an 1. Car. 1. was advanced from the second on the Prince's to the second on the Soveraign's side And Henry Frederick Prince
so negligent as not to come to the celebrations of the Grand Feast and yet have no justifiable reason of his absence such as may be allowed by the Soveraign or his Deputy he shall not at the Feast to be held the ensuing year enter into his own Stall but stand below before it in the place above mentioned 2. he shall walk alone by himself before the three Crosses which in ancient times were born in the Grand Procession 3. When the Grand Procession returns to the Choire he shall stand in the place before mentioned the following part of the Mass until the time of the Offertory 4. He shall Offer last of all by himself alone And after the humble sufferance of all these Penances he shall forthwith approach the Stall of the Soveraign or his Deputy and there humbly desire absolution for his Offence Whereupon the Soveraign or his Deputy shall restore him to his Stall and first estate But we have not hitherto met with any Record or Memorial where the particulars of this punishment were executed upon any of the Knights Offenders albeit we too often find where many have neither appeared all the time of the Feast nor sent Letters of excuse nor obtained license for their absence As for instance an 9. H. 6. Sir Robert Vmsrevile Sir Simon Felbrigg and Sir William Harington signified not the cause of their absence neither did the Duke of Buckingham nor Earl of Northumberland give any reason at all of their absence The like hath been observed of many others but without further memorial of what the Chapter did thereupon Fifthly and lastly the Statutes ordain That if any Knight-Companion remain within the Kingdom and not having a sufficient excuse to be allowed upon humble suit as aforesaid shall presume to absent himself the next following year and thereby become culpable of an omission of two years successively from the Solemnity before mentioned he ought thereupon to be so long interdicted his own Stall until in the said Chappel he shall have offered at Saint George's Altar a Iewel to the value of 20 Marks of lawful money of England and thence forward every year so long as he shall continue guilty in that nature the mulct must be doubled until he be reconciled and pardoned By vertue of this last Clause of the foregoing Article was the Lord Maltravers an 15. E. 4. for such his absence fined at 20 Marks And the Lord Scales an 36. H. 6. in a Jewel of 20 Marks value which as probably may be collected was the following year endeavoured either to be mitigated or taken off nevertheless we find the sentence confirmed and he left to pay the Fine imposed Of later times the greatest Offender that we observed against this Statutes was Ferdinand Earl of Derby who having made no excuse nor Petition for his absence in two years was at a Chapter held on the Eve of the Grand Feast an 13. Car. 1. accordingly fined and that with some further note of negligence but at the mediation of the Earl of Penbroke and Montgomery he was for that time remitted Yet was he not guilty of any future neglect for the following year upon his humble Petition setting forth his age weakness and inability to Travel he obtained a Dispensation for attendance on the Soveraign at the Feasts of St. George during his life But the most memorable case in the prosecution of a contempt was that against the Earl of Arundel who in a Chapter held an 14. E. 4. was fined 40 Marks to be paid to the Colledge of Windesor for being absent from the Solemnity of the Grand Feast for two years together without any approved cause and the following year still continuing his Contempt the mulct by virtue of the aforesaid Statute was doubled and he fined in the sum of 80 Marks Touching the third particular amongst those things done of course in the Chapter held before the first Vespers to wit the nominating and constituting an Officer for holding the same if the Soveraign be not present we are beforehand to note the occasion and cause thereof which was briefly this At the time of Instituting this Order the Soveraign being engaged in Wars with France and Scotland which he then and for some time after personally managed thought fit to make provision for supply of his room no less than in case of sickness or other urgent occasion where he should be hindered from affording his personal presence at such time of the year whereon the Grand Feast should happen and hereupon allowance was given by the Statutes to depute another in his stead When therefore such occasion afterwards hapned a Commission was made out to one of the Knights-Companions some reasonable time before the approach of the Feast to the end that by such a representation of his Person none of the ancient Ceremonies might be omitted or any defect happen through his absence For till the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign we meet not with any Commissions that stayed for the Soveraign's fiat so long as until the sitting of the Chapter held before the first Vespers Nevertheless seeing from thence it hath been for the most part thus practised we think it not improper to give our account thereof here amongst those things of course which if at this day the appointing such an Officer shall be thought requisite are usually dispatcht at the foresaid Chapter And herein we shall speak 1. Of the Person Nominated to this Office 2. his Title 3. the Ceremonies used at his Constitution 4. the nature of his Employment 5. and the Dignity of his Office As to the Person Nominated we observe That most usually he hath been one if not the chief of the Knights-Companions we mean in Authority Eminence or Birth next to the Soveraign himself Such were Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Humfrey Duke of Gloucester stiled also Earl of Henalt Zeland and Penbroke Lord of Frizland Protector and Governor of England both Sons to King Henry the Fourth Brothers to King Henry the Fifth and Uncles to King Henry the Sixth Humfry Stafford Duke of Buckingham Son and Heir of Edmund Stafford by Anne Plantaginet Daughter of Thomas of Woodstock made Primer Duke of England 22. Maii an 25. H. 6. Thomas Earl of Derby Father-in-Law to King Henry the Seventh the Dukes of Suffolk and Richmond with Marquesses of Dorset and Exceter in King Henry the Eighth's time The Duke of Norfolk Marquess of Northampton Earl of Leicester and Lord Treasurers Burghley and Buckhurst under Queen Elizabeth And in King Iames his Reign the Soveraign's eldest Sons the Princes of Wales first Prince Henry and after his death Prince Charles the late Soveraign of blessed memory Next we shall consider the Time and Place when and where he hath been appointed to this Employment Concerning
which came across the body over the right shoulder and so under the left arm And was the Ensign from whence the Knights took their denomination This Order was instituted chiefly to honor the Nobility and therefore at first none were admitted but the younger Sons of Noblemen excluding elder Brothers or persons descended of the most noble Families in Spain or else Esquires who had served in the Court or Camp ten years at the least and to the end that greater honor might the more inflame them to valiant Exploits Kings themselves sometimes vouchsafed to take the Ensign of this Order upon them It was anciently of very great esteem but such is the vicissitude of humane Affairs at length it grew out of use The Laws and Constitutions are recorded by Anth. de Guevera who also gives a Catalogue of the first Knights Ios. Micheli Sansovin Favin and Segar to whom we refer those that are desirous to be informed of them The Order de la Calza in Venice 18 From the example of the Knights de la Banda in Castile and about the year 1400. was instituted a Society at Venice bearing the Title de la Calza in honor of the Inauguration of Duke Michele Steno Meeting with but a slender account hereof among those Authors who have handled Military Orders and some confounding it with that of St. Mark I was at length by the friendship of the deservedly honored Sir Charles Cotterel Knight Master of the Ceremonies to his Majesty furnished with better satisfaction which he obtained for me from Signóre Pietro Moccinigo the late Venetian Ambassador at his Residence here in England and from Signóre Aberti the present Resident for that State This Order consisted of a Society of particular Noblemen and Gentlemen who at their voluntary choice met together and entred into a Fellowship among whom some person of Eminence was elected their Chief Nevertheless upon the recommendation of their intention and design to the Council of Ten who confirmed their Institution and granted them Priviledges It hath appeared with so much the more reputation to the world by having had the honor to receive into it several Princes of Italy especially the Family of Este Dukes of Ferara of Gonzaga then Marquesses now Dukes of Mantua of the Rovere Vrbino Mirandula and others of the most conspicuous Families of that Country namely Colonna Vrsini Sanseverini Visconti and others They were distinguished by wearing a Stocking quartered into different colours embroidered with gold and enriched with Jewels which they at pleasure altered from the right to the left Leg and in particular it is remembred that an 1529. the right Stocking then worn was half the inside of Scarlet and half the outside of Purple and the other half gray but the left Stocking was all green and as were the Husbands Stockings such were the Wives Sleeves in all particulars On their solemn days they first went to Church and at Mass took an Oath to observe the Articles of their Order Among other things which this Society for the honor of the City was obliged to splendid and noble Entertainments were part at which were exhibited Musick Dancings and Theatral Representations And with such magnificent and sumptuous Divertisements have they given reception to divers foreign Princes in particular to Henry the Third of France when he past by Venice in his way from Poland to France They wore for their Habit a Crimson Senators Vest appearing therein very splendid and reserved for solemn days at which times the Foreign Princes that had been admitted into this Order appeared clad after the same manner These Knights had for their Ensign a Sun on a Shield painted in their Banners which they used also for a Seal perhaps as a happy Omen and Presage that the Order being laid aside about the year 1590. for the excess it was growing into should like the Sun from under a Cloud rise again in after times when better opportunity offered it self in greater splendor than ever The Order of St. Mark in Venice 19. In this Seigniory there is another Degree or Dignity of Knighthood commonly called the Order of St. Mark and because it is generally reckoned among the Orders of Knighthood and differs from the Milites Simplices by wearing a peculiar Title and being invested with a particular Ensign of Honor at their Creation we have thought good rather to discourse of it here though the Ceremony of Creation is performed after the manner of Knights Batchellors viz. by Dubbing with a Sword and their Title a bare mark of Honor only being by our Learned Selden affirmed to be the known Degree of Knighthood given by Supreme Princes or such as have a like power with them Besides we have been informed thence that those Knights are not governed by any Laws or Statutes and are without any Revenue or Indowment of Lands That they are not under any particular obligation or tye except what is common to them with other Subjects namely that of Fidelity to the Prince being in all things else left to their own liberty To this we add that the Honor is also bestowed on absent persons by Letters Patent or Codicils as is the Knightly Dignity sometimes among some of which that to the learned Sir Daniel Heinsius is given us by Mr. Selden It had its Title from St. Mark the Evangelist whose Body was translated to Venice from Alexandria in Aegypt in the year of our Lord 828. in the time of Iustinianus Patritius Duke of Venice ever since which time this Saint hath been assumed and taken for the titular Angel and Guardian of this noble City and his Picture very anciently painted upon their Banners and Ensigns but as to the Institution it is not certainly determined when or by whom it was first brought in use The Badge of Honor wherewith these Knights are adorned is a Gold Chain put over their shoulders at the instant of their Creation whereat depends a Medal on the one side is represented the Symbol of St. Mark to wit the Figure of a Lyon having wings holding in his right Paw a drawn Sword and in his left a Book spread open in which this Motto Pax tibi Marce Evangelista mens on the other the name of the Duke then living beautified with a particular Impress but in the other he is represented on his Knee receiving a Standard from the hands of St. Mark and sometimes this Medal is worn on a Cross enamel'd blue I was further informed from the hand of the noble Signóre Pietro Moccinigo that the Duke of Venice bestows this Honor either privately in his Chamber or publickly in a full Colledge Some also are made Knights by the Senate and those of the Venetian Nobility at least persons of very eminent Quality and Character who have merited well of this Common-wealth by some extraordinary piece of service either at home or abroad or upon whatever occasion
a Copy whereof was most freely communicated to me by Monsieur Cristofle Lindenow Envoye from Christian the Fifth now King of Denmark to his sacred Majesty the present Soveraign of the most noble Order of the Garter This Letter informs him of the Institution and some other particulars relating to the Order to wit That King Christian the first being at Rome whither he had travelled upon a religious account Pope Sixtus the Fourth among other Honors invested him with this Order in memory of the Passion of our Lord and Saviour and withal ordained that the dignity of Chief and Supream should be continued as a successive right to the succeeding Kings of Denmark This King founded the magnificent Chappel of the three Kings in the Cathedral Church at Roschilt four Leagues from Copenhagen where the Knights were obliged to assemble upon the death of any of their Fraternity He also admitted thereinto divers Kings Princes and Noblemen The chief Ensign of this Order was the Figure of an Elephant on whose side within a Rundle was represented a Crown of Thorns with three Nails all bloody in honor and memory of the Passion of our blessed Saviour The Knights were obliged to the performance of acts of Piety Alms Deeds and certain Ceremonies especially upon those days on which they wore the Ensigns of the Order But King Iohn set so high a value upon it that he wore them on every solemn Festival He also advanc'd the honor of this Order to so great esteem that it became accepted by both our King Henry the Eighth and Iames the Fifth King of Scotland his Sisters Son with whom the Ensigns thereof remained as a Pledge and assurance of constant and perpetual friendship with these he likewise invested divers Ambassadors Senators and noble Danes There is one Ivarus Nicholai Hertholm a learned Dane as I am informed who hath written a particular Treatise of this Elephantine Order but not yet printed The scope whereof is to shew that the beforementioned Epistle of the Bishop of Arhusen does not sufficiently make it appear that it received its first Institution when Christian the First had those many Honors conferr'd on him by Pope Sixtus the Fourth And that the Badge was an Ensign meerly Military anciently given as a memorial and incitement to the Danish Princes who took upon them the defence of Christianity against the Moors and Africans 'T is greatly presumed that this Book which we hope may shortly be published will furnish the world with many choice things relating to the antiquity and honor of the Institution Ensigns and Ceremonies of this royal Order Heretofore the Knights wore a Collar of Gold composed of Elephants and Crosses fashioned something like Crosses Ancrees Mennenius calls them Spurs at which hung the Picture of the Virgin Mary to the middle holding Christ in her arms and surrounded with a Glory of Sun-beams but they have long since laid this Collar aside and now wear only a Blue Ribbon at which hangs an Elephant enamelled White adorned with five large Diamonds set in the middle Those Elephants worn by the Knights in the Reign of Christian the Fourth had in the same place within a Circle the Letter C and in the heart thereof the Figure of 4 made to signifie Christianus quartus This Honor hath been most commonly conferr'd by the Kings of Denmark on the day of their Coronation both upon the Nobles and Senators of the Kingdom It seems Frederick the Third brought into use in imitation of the most noble Order of the Garter an embroidered Glory of Silver Purle wrought upon the left side of their Cloak or Vest on which was embroidered two Crowns within a Rundle bearing his Motto Deus providebit for such a one did Count Guldenâ— low Ambassador hither from that King wear at his residing here in England anno 1669. But we are to note that the Motto hath changed with the King for that of the present King is Pietate Iustitia and this the Knights of his Election now wear in the middle of the Circle Nevertheless all the Knights created by his Father are obliged still to continue the former Motto The Order of the Burgundian Cross at Tunis 43. Charles the Fifth Emperor of Germany and King of Spain after he had restored Mulleasses King of Tunis to his Kingdom who had been expulsed thence by that famous Pyrate Barbarossa on the day of his victorious entrade into Tunis with solemn and magnificent Pomp was apparelled in a Coat which he used to wear in Battel whereon was embroidered the Burgundian Cross and being desirous to gain the good respect of all who had served in that War was chiefly willing to adorn the Commanders that had behaved themselves valiantly in the Victory with some Badge or token of Honor as a reward and for this reason did he institute this Order in the year 1535. on St. Magdalen's day To this Burgundian Cross he added a Steel striking sparks of fire out of Flint with this Inscription BARBARIA to be the Badge or Ensign thereof And for an additional Ornament gave a Collar of Gold whereat hung the said Badge Some say this Order was instituted at ten of the Clock that day it being also the hour of Mercury in which respect the Character of that Planet is usually enamelled on the one side of the Jewel as the Burgundian Cross is on the other But it was of short continuance for it expired long since The Order of Knights of the Holy Ghost in France 44. This Order received Institution from the French King Henry the Third the first Chapter being held on the last day of the year 1578. The design thereof was chiefly to unite and tye his Nobility and Prelates more firmly to their natural obedience as also to stir up and encourage them to persevere in the Romish Religion to illustrate and adorn the state of the Nobility and to restore its ancient splendor and dignity It had its denomination from the Holy Ghost to whose power and assistance the Founder usually ascribed all his Actions and Councils advanced with most glorious and fortunate successes in remembrance that he was born on Whitsonday in the year of our Lord 1550. elected to the Crown of Poland on Whitsonday 1573. and lastly came to the Crown of France on Whitsonday 1574. The number of Knights whereof this Order was to consist is by the Statutes ordained to be one hundred besides the Soveraign or Great Master which Office and Dignity is inseparable from the Crown of France A long Mantle of Black Velvet turned up on the left side and opened on the right was also appointed for the Habit of this Order being at first embroidered round with Gold and Silver consisting of Flowers de Lis and Knots of Gold between three sundry Cyphers of Silver and above the Flowers de Lis and Knots were thickly seeded or powdered Flames of Fire This great Mantle
de bonà Requie and another annual Pension of 20 l. paid by the Abbot of Rousford for the mediety of the Church of Rotheram The 29. of Ianuary anno regni sui 13. he gave the Mannor or Priorate of Munclane in the County of Hereford parcel of the possessions belonging to the Priories Alien with all and singular its appurtenances The following year viz. 27. of February he granted to them by the name of Custos or Dean and Chapter of this Colledge the Custody Patronage and free disposition of the Hospital or Free-Chappel of St. Anthonies London a Preceptory of the Monastery of St. Anthony at Vienna with all the Liberties Priviledges Lands Rents Services and Emoluments whatsoever thereunto belonging upon the first vacancy whether it should happen by death resignation or otherwise He also gave them the 17. of May ensuing the Priorate of Brimsfield in the County of Gloucester the Mannor of Blakenham in the County of Suffolk parcel of the Priory of Okeburne the Priorate of St. Elene in the Isle of Wight in Hampshire the Priorate of Mannor of Charleton in Wiltshire and all the Lands Tenements Rents and Services in Northumudon Compton and Welegh in the Counties of Sussex and Southampton which sometime belonged to the Abbey of Lucerne in Normandy the Mannor of Ponyngton and Wedon in the County of Dorset parcel of the possessions of Okeburne Priory one annual Pension of twelve Marks payable by the Prior of the Priory of Monte-Acuto together with all and singular the Lands Tenements Rents Advowsons Liberties c. annexed to the said Priorates and Mannors or in any manner appertaining with license to appropriate the same to them and their Successors About two Moneths after this King gave also to the Colledge the Mannor of Membury in Devonshire and Lordships of Preston and Monkesilver in the County of Somerset the Advowsons of the Churches of Puryton and Wollavington in the said County being parcel of the Priory of Golalys in Wales and one of the Priors Aliens together with the Knights Fees Advowsons Profits Rights c. thereunto belonging In the 18. year of his Reign the Queen Thomas Archbishop of York and several Bishops Noblemen and others being seised to the use of the King his Heirs and Successors of the Mannor of Wykecombe called Bassetsbury the Fee Farm of the Town of great Wykecombe the Mannor of Crendon in the County of Buckingham and of the Mannors of Haseley and Pyrton in the County of Oxford parcel of the Lands of the Dutchy of Lancaster they at the special command of the King demised and granted the premises with all their appurtenances to the Custos or Dean and Canons and their Successors until such time as the King his Heirs or Successors should grant to them other Lands of the like yearly value The 17. of February following this King gave them the Advowson of the Church of Cheshunt being of his own Patronage with license to appropriate the same provided the Vicarage were sufficiently endowed and a competent sum of money annually distributed among the poor Parishioners according to the Diocesan's Ordinance and form of the Statute in such case provided This King the 21. of February following united the Custody or Deanry of the Free Chappel of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford to the Custos or Dean of this Colledge and his Successors for ever This Church cum membris is exempt not only from the Jurisdiction of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry but by a Papal Bull from all his Legates and Delegates nor is it subject to any terrene power but the Majesty of England and under it to the perpetual visitation of the Keepers of the Great Seal pro tempore He likewise gave them the Advowson or Patronage of the Prebend of Ewern in the County of Dorset the 27. of Sept. in the 20. year of his Reign with all its rights and appurtenances and also a license of appropriation And lastly the 21. of November in the ensuing year he granted to them two parts of the Mannors of Old-Swynford and Gannow in the County of Worcester and the Reversion of the third part of them after the death of Mâ—rgaret Wife of Fulk Stafford Esquire with the Advowson of the Church of Old-Swynford These were the effects of this most noble and munificent Princes piety and liberality towards this Colledge Nor was he alone bountiful but excited others to be so likewise and to that purpose in the first year of his Reign hâ—â—nsed all his Subjects in general to give what Lands Rents or Advowâ—ons they pleaâ—ed to the Dean and Canons within the value of 300 Marks per annum as well such as they held of the King in Capite or in Burgage or otherwise as any other Land the same to be united and appropriated to the Colledge and its uses pâ—rpâ—tually notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmaiâ—e and afterwards increased this license to Lands of the value of 500 l. a year but King Henry the Eighth extended the like license to the value of 1000 l. per annum Hereupon shortly after to wit Iune 29. anno Regni sui 20. he granted license to Iohn Duke of Suffolk and Elizabeth his Wife the Kings Sister to give and assign unto them the Mannor or Lordship of Grovebury otherwise called Leighton-Busard with its appurtenances in the County of Bedford the Church of Tintagell in Cornwall with all its emoluments as also 19 Messuages 7 Tofts 140 Acres of Land 14 Acres of Medow 140 Acres of Pasture 1â—â— Acres of Wood and 4 l. Rent with their appurtenances in Newford and Blanford in the County of Dorset And 70 Messuages 12 Tofts 500 Acres of Land 100 Acres of Medow 300 Acres of Pasture 100 Acres of Wood and 100 shillings Rent with the appurtenances in Stokeley Northall Edelesburgh and Rodenach in Buckinghamshire And 20 Messuages 8 Tosts 300 Acres of Land 60 Acres of Medow 200 Acres of Pasture 40 Acres of Wood and 20 shillings Rent with the appurtenances in Compton-St John in the County of Sussex And 10 Messuages 9 Tofts 200 Acres of Land 20 Acres of Medow 100 Acres of Pasture 10 Acres of Wood and 20 shillings Rent with the appurtenances in Portsmouth and Burgbegge in Hampshire And one Messuage 3 Tofts 60 Acres of Land 6 Acres of Medow 40 Acres of Pasture and 20 shillings Rent with the appurtenances in Stodeham in the County of Hertford held of the King in Capite notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmaine or any other restriction or proviso whatsoever We shall here note that the 24. of Iuly anno 18. E. 4. this Duke of Suffolk infeoffed Richard Duke of York Thomas Bishop of Lincoln and others of the Mannor of Leighton-Busard who the 25. of Iune anno 19. E. 4. at his special instance Demised and Granted the said Mannor to the Dean and Canons forever And in the Octaves of St. Iohn Baptist anno 20. E. 4.
or either of them to Knight the said Prince before the putting on his Garter seeing it could not possibly be done before his Election which was intended to be sent and presented unto him by the hands of Sir Iohn Burrough Garter but his death after hapning the Soveraign's intention herein was frustrated Albeit the Prince upon his coming afterwards into England received both the Garter and George from the Soveraign himself at Nottingham nevertheless without being Knighted which to excuse it may well be alledged that the Soveraign might not take into his thoughts this part of the Ceremony it being a time of so greas business and trouble occasioned by the then setting up of his Standard However upon the 17 day of Ianuary an 1644. when a Decree past in Chapter then held at Oxford that both the Duke of York and the Prince should enjoy all Rights and Priviledges of the Order though they were not hitherto Installed until Windesor was free from the Enemy but then to perform the Ceremonies of Installation there the Prince before he took his Oath was conducted by the Earl of Berkshire and Duke of Richmond and Lenox two of the Knights-Companions unto the Soveraign and kneeling down received the honor of Knighthood from him There being at the same time two of the Nobility likewise Knighted in memorial of that Solemnity namely the Lord Henry Seymour second Son to the Marquess of Hertford brought up to the Soveraign between Sir Iohn Stawell Knight and Baronet and Sir Francis Lloyd Knights and the Lord Capell conducted between Sir Richard Willis and Sir Thomas Corbet Knights SECT VIII Of the Scruteny and by whom it ought to be taken ALL this being premised we are led directly to the Scruteny it self in reference to which we shall first consider by Whom it ought or hath been usually taken next the time when and then the manner and form thereof By the Statutes of Institution the collecting Knights-Companions Votes and entring them in the Scruteny properly belongs to the Prelate of the Order and upon him is this employment conferr'd not only by the other Bodies of Statutes that succeeded but also by the Constitutions of his Office and the obligation of his Oath whose right thereunto we find afterwards duly asserted upon this Officers taking a Scruteny anno 27. Eliz. on the Feast day of St. George Nevertheless the Statutes provided that if the Prelate were at any time absent then the Dean of Windesor or the Register or the Senior Residentiary of the Colledge or the Secretary or Scribe of the Order should undertake the employment and the Constitutions of the Officers say the Chancellor Dean or Register shall in like case do it which when they did it is frequently mentioned to be performed by them in absence of the Prelate as implying a reservation of his right to the employment or as in another place more expresly In the absence of the Prelate whose particular duty otherwise it had been Now there are various Examples of all these given us in the Annals of the Order but among the many take these that follow and first of the Prelate The Prelate of the Order gathered and received the Suffrages from the Knights-Companions anno 9. H. 5. when Iohn Earl Marshal and four other Knights were Elected The like did Henry Beaufort Lord Cardinal Prelate of the Order upon the Election of the King of Portugal an 13. H. 6. And when the Duke of Norfolk was Elected an 28. H. 6. the Prelate then also collected the Suffrages which he likewise did upon the Feast days of St. George celebrated in the 12. 13. 14. 27. 28. 30. 31. 34. and 35. years of Queen Elizabeth's Reign Sometimes the Scrutenies have been collected both by the Dean of Windesor and the Register of the Order jointly as at the Elections of Iohn Lord Talbot an 2. H. 6. of Sir Iohn Fastolf an 6. H. 6. and the Duke of Quinbery an 5. H. 6. all taken at the Feasts of St. George celebrated at Windesor And peradventure the Dean at those times received the Votes from the Knights-Companions on the Soveraign's side while the Register collected those other on the Prince's for we observe that in King Henry the Fifth's Reign in employments of other natures but of like manner as to the performance one whereof was to signifie the pleasure of the Soveraign to the Knights-Companions about their giving due Reverence first to God and afterwards to Himself and the other in a Ceremonial which directs and appoints the manner and order of Censing the Knights-Companions in both which the Dean was sent to perform the service on the right hand the Choire the Soveraign's side and the Register on the left Sometimes the Register of the Order took them himself alone as at the Election of Iohn Earl of Arundel an 10. H. 6. as also at another Election of the Earl of Monteyne and Sir Iohn Grey an 14. H. 6. And we likewise find that when the Office of Register was void and Thomas Ruthall Bishop of Duresme executed it during its vacancy the Bishop himself an 2. H. 8. collected the Suffrages In like manner when William Day Dean of Windesor officiated in the absence of George Carew Dean of the Chappel and Register of the Order at the Feasts of Saint George held at Whitehall the 18. and 19. years of Queen Elizabeth he performed this service This duty was likewise performed by the Register from the 15. year of King Henry the Eighth to the end of his and his Sons Reign as appears by the Black Book of the Order in those places where the taking of Scrutenies is treated of as also on the day of St. George celebrated the first of Queen Elizabeth by Iohn Boxhall and again at the Feast of St. George held an 1. Iac. by Gâ—leâ— Thompson who in the several times were Registers of this most Noble Order Nevertheless here it must be understood that what was in these Instances done by the Register or such as officiated for him was on the behalf of the Prelate and not otherwise But in the beginning of Queen Maries Reign we find the Chancellor of the Order began to perform this service being by King Henry the Eight's Statutes adjoined to those other Officers before appointed to collect the Scrutenies In absence of the Prelate and thereby made capable of the employment which afterwards we observe somewhat tacitely noted to be performed as if in his own right when the Register hath done it in the Chancellor's absence Though in truth it was no other then as when the Bishop of Duresme and Doctor Day immediately before remembred took the Scruteny in the vacancy of the Office and absence of the Register nevertheless on the
seen George Duke of Clarence seated and the Black Book saith this King of Portugal was Elected an 22. E. 4. in the place of George Duke of Clarence whose Stall had been long vacant and whereinto an 19. E. 4. had been Elected though perhaps not installed Henry King of Spain So the King of Poland Casemir was Elected an 28. H. 6. into the sixth Stall on the Princâ—s side at that time void by the death of the Duke of Conimbero whose first Founder was Sir Iohn Mohun Again Alphonsus King of Aragon and Naples an 38. H. 6. was Elected into the Stall of Don Albro Vasques Dalmadea Count d' Averence being the seventh on the Soveraign's side Sir Hugh Courtney first possessing it Ferdinand King of Naples and Sicely Elected an 3. E. 4. was Installed in the third Stall on the Princes side Ralph Earl of Stafford having been the first installed therein To this King succeeded Hercules Duke of Ferrara Elected an 19. E. 4. and after him Guido Vbaldus Duke of Vrbin chosen a Companion of this most Noble Society by King Henry the Seventh Lastly we find that Alphonsus King of Sicely and Ierusalem being Elected also by King Henry the Seventh received his Installation in the second Stall on the Princes side whose first Predecessor was Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick In the second place if we descend to Foreign Princes it may be observed that William Duke of Gueldres Elected by King Richard the Second was installed in the sixth Stall on the Soveraign's side which Sir Iohn Beauchamp one of the first Founders sometime possest That William of Henault Earl of Ostervant afterwards Earl of Holland Haynalt and Zeland chosen Companion of the Order by the said King Richard was installed in the eleventh Stall on the Soveraign's side whose first Predecessor was Sir Iohn Chaâ—dos That Robert Count Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Bavaria Elected by King Henry the Fourth was installed in the eighth Stall on the Soveraign's side That Philip Duke of Burgundy was Elected by King Henry the Fifth though not Installed into the Stall of Sir Iohn Clifford which appears to be the eleventh on the Princes side Sir Iames Audeley one of the first Founders having been first placed therein And that an 28. H. 6. Henry Duke of Brunswick was Elected into the Duke of Suffolk's Stall viz. the seventh on the same side it having been the Stall of Sir Thomas Holand Earl of Kent one of the first Founders And lastly that Frederick Duke of Vrbyn sat in the twelfth Stall on the Soveraign's side he therein succeeding Sir Walter Blount an 14. E. 4. and having Sir Otho Holand Brother to the aforesaid Sir Tho. Holand for his Founder Add to these the Sons of Kings and we find Peter Duke of Conimbero one of the Sons to Iohn the First King of Portugal Elected an 5. H. 6. to have been Installed in the sixth Stall on the Princes side therein succeeding the Duke of Exceter So also Henry Duke of Visen another of this Kings Sons Elected an 21. H. 6. succeeded Sir Simon Felbrige in the lowest Stall on the Princes side whose first Predecessor therein was Sir Walter Pavely And as the Statute was carefully observed with reference to the Election and Installation of Foreign Princes so no less in relation to the Princes of the Blood at home among whom let us in the third place observe the placing the Sons of the Founder of this most Noble Order where first we see Lyonel Duke of Clarence his third Son to have been Installed in the sixth Stall on the Soveraign's side whose immediate Predecessor was Sir Iohn Beauchamp one of the first Founders In like manner Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster his Fourth Son was Installed in the seventh Stall on the Princes side having Sir Thomas Holand for his Predecessor and a Founder Again Edmund of Langley Duke of York his fifth Son was Installed in the seventh Stall on the Soveraign's side Sir Hugh Courtney one of the first Founders being first placed therein And Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Gloucester his sixth Son sat in the eighth Stall on the Soveraign's side whose first Predecessor was Sir Iohn Grey one of the first Founders likewise It may be further observed that the Rule in the Statute was strictly pursued in relation also to the Sons of King Henry the Fourth for Thomas Duke of Clarence his second Son was seated in the seventh Stall on the Princes side Iohn Duke of Bedford and Regent of France his third Son was installed in the seventh Stall on the Soveraign's side viz. opposite to the Duke of Clarence his elder Brother and in a Stall of higher dignity And Humfry Duke of Gloucester his fourth Son sâ—t in the eleventh Stall on the same side To instance next in the Brothers and Sons of King Edward the Fourth George Duke of Clarence was placed in the second Stall on the Princes side Richard Duke of Gloucester afterwards King of England and Soveraign of this Order was Installed in the fifth Stall on the Soveraign's side whose first Predecessor was Sir Iohn Lisle And Richard Duke of York the said Kings second Son received his Installation in the fourth Stall on the Princes side In the last place if we review the foresaid Tables we shall find that as the Knights-Companions of higher dignity assumed the Stalls when they became vacant though often of the lower sort so some of the lowest degree among them have had the honor to be Installed in Seats of superior rank and this meerly by virtue and observance of the Law in this case provided Among these Knights-Companions we shall first reckon Sir Philip la Vache a Gascon who in the Reign of King Richard the Second was first Installed in the Princes Stall that being void by the death of Iohn of Gaunt in whose room he hapned to be Elected though afterwards removed to the third Stall on the Soveraign's side As also Sir Iohn Dabrichcourt Elected an 1. H. 5. who died possest of the said Princes Stall in the fifth of the said King Next Sir Nicholas Sarnesfield Standard-Bearer to the Founder who succeeded Hugh Earl of Stafford and after him Sir William Arundel imediate Successor to the said Sir Nicholas were both installed in the second Stall on the Soveraign's side Sir Iohn Robsart an Heynower was an 9. H. 5. installed in the second Stall on the Princes side Sir Gilbert Talbot and after him Sir Iohn Grey were both installed in the third Stall on the Soveraign's side And in the third Stall on the Princes side was Ralph Stafford one of the first Founders installed in which Stall successively sate Sir Alan Boxhull Sir Bryan Stapleton and Sir William Scroop We could add here divers other instances how the Knights-Companions both in the case of Elections and Installations have succeeded in the Stalls of their immediate Predecessors but these already inserted may suffice since they include
of Orange from the third on the Soveraign's to the second on the Prince's an 10. Car. 1. upon the death of the King of Sweden In those instances of Removals lower after Installation we shall first remember That an 6. Eliz. when the French King Charles the Ninth was Elected the superior Stalls were already fill'd with Strangers and there was no way left to make room for him to the Stall designed him by the Soveraign but by removal of some of those Knights Strangers lower and thereupon for the present Emanuel Duke of Savoy was removed one Stall lower viz. to the third on the Soveraign's side Anne Duke of Montmorency to the third on the Prince's side and the Duke of Holstein to the fourth on the same side But the said French King was not Installed until the 16. of Ianuary an 8. Eliz. and before that it was concluded to remove the King of Spain to the Duke of Savoy's Stall voided as before and to Instal the French King in the King of Spain's void Stall which was accordingly done so that on this occasion there were four Strangers and five Knights Subjects before remembred removed lower to make way for the French King The 20. of April an 2. Iac. Reg. the Duke of Wirtemberg was installed in the third Stall on the Prince's side and on St. George's Eve in the following year advanced a Stall higher viz. to the third on the Soveraign's side The 16. of May ensuing Vlrick Duke of Holst had assigned him that Stall from whence the Duke of Wirtemberg was advanced and installed therein But against the Installation of Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark which hapned to be the 9. of September in the same year the Duke of Wirtemberg was removed back to the Seat wherein he was Installed and the Duke of Holst advanced into his void Stall All which will appear more clear from the appointment of Stalls on these occasions which follow A Remove of Banners and Plates at the Installation of Frederick Duke of Wirtemberg Anno. Iac. Reg. 2. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The Prince 2. Void 3. Earl of Nottingham 3. Duke of Wirtemberg 4. Earl of Ormond 4. Earl of Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Earl of Cumberland 6. Earl of Northumberland 6. Earl of Worcester 7. Lord Sheffield 7. Earl of Suffolk 8. Earl of Devonshire 8. Sir Henry Lea 9. Earl of Sussex 9. Lord Scrope 10. Earl of Darby 10. Lord Burghley 11. Duke of Lenox 11. Earl of Southampton 12. Earl of Marr. 12. Earl of Penbroke 13. Void 13. Void The order of Stalls at St. George's Feast an Iac. Regis 3. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The Prince 2. Void 3. Duke of Wirtemberg 3. Earl of Nottingham 4. Earl of Ormond 4. Earl of Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 5. Earl of Cumberland 6. Earl of Northumberland 6. Earl of Worcester 7. Lord Sheffield 7. Earl of Suffolk 8. Earl of Devonshire 8. Sir Henry Lea. 9. Earl of Sussex 9. Lord Scrope 10. Earl of Darby 10. Lord Burleigh 11. Duke of Lenox 11. Earl of Southampton 12. Earl of Marr. 12. Earl of Penbroke 13. Void 13. Void A Remove of Banners and Plates at the Installation of Vlrick Duke of Holst the 16. of May an Iac. R. 3. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The Prince 2. Void 3. Duke of Wirtemberg 3. Duke of Holst 4. Earl of Nottingham 4. Earl of Ormond 5. Earl of Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 6. Earl of Cumberland 6. Earl of Northumberland 7. Earl of Worcester 7. Lord Sheffeild 8. Earl of Suffolk 8. Earl of Devonshire 9. Sir Henry Lea. 9. Earl of Sussex 10. Lord Scroope 10. Earl of Derby 11. Earl of Exceter 11. Duke of Lenox 12. Earl of Southampton 12. Earl of Marr. 13. Earl of Penbroke 13. Earl of Northampton A Remove of Banners and Plates at the Installation of Christierne the Fourth King of Denmark the 8. of Sept. an Iac. Reg. 3. Iames R. Â 1. The Soveraign 1. The French King 2. The King of Denmark 2. The Prinoe 3. Duke of Holst 3. Duke of Wirtemberg 4. Earl of Nottingham 4. Earl of Ormond 5. Earl of Dorset 5. Earl of Shrewsbury 6. Earl of Cumberland 6. Earl of Northumberland 7. Earl of Worcester 7. Lord Sheffeild 8. Earl of Suffolk 8. Earl of Devonshire 9. Sir Henry Lea. 9. Earl of Sussex 10. Lord Scrope 10. Earl of Derby 11. Earl of Exceter 11. Duke of Lenox 12. Earl of Southampton 12. Earl of Marr. 13. Earl of Penbroke 13. Earl of Northampton Here in this last Scheme we see Prince Henry was removed from the second on the Soveraign's to the second on the Prince's side to make room for the King of Denmark And though the Duke of Chevereux An. 3. Car. 1. upon the death of the Duke of Brunswick was advanced from the third Stall on the Soveraign's side into the Duke of Brunswick's void Stall namely the second on the Prince's side nevertheless the year following upon the admittance of Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden he was removed two Stalls lower and at that time the Prince Elector Palatine one But let us return from the Removal and Translation of a Knight-Subject after he had been installed to the Assignment of his Stall at the time of Installation it self and in the last place note That on the 24. of April an 6. Eliz. instead of the ancient Law which appointed each Elect-Knight to succeed in the Stall of his Predecessor and the latter which permitted a Translation at pleasure a new one was introduced being framed as was conceived upon a more equal ground than the former and to avoid as much as might be the danger of emulation which was this That all Knights who for the future were admitted into the Society of the Order should take and be installed in the lowest Stall according to the course and seniority of their Election except only stranger Kings and Princes Whereupon it came to pass that when a Knight-Subject Elect was to be Installed he taking the lowest Stall all the Knights-Companions between him and the vacant Stall were removed higher to the end such vacancy might be supplied or if two or more were to be Installed at one time they took the lowest Stalls according to the seniority of their Election the senior Knight-Elect being placed higher than the junior And albeit this manner and order in Removals is now become a thing of course and the method easie yet may it not be done or the Atchievements Banners or Plates removed unless the Soveraign Sign a Warrant as formerly wherein they are orderly ranked to justifie Garter for so doing which will be the more easily understood by the insertion of a Scheme or two The order of Stalls as they stood at the Feast of St. George an 29. Eliz. Elizabeth R. Â 1. The
of Chartain and of Drouais And then all the County of Montsort to be surrendred to King Edward within a Month after Or otherwise Hostages In Berry and Bourbonoys The Fortresses of Brisansoys of St. Torete le Priague also Chabries Espunell Beamein Briance Masbres the Abbey of Diverlaks Thos Bruyll Ameron Vierson Mausey Bourseront the Roche Tnay Blotueres Villers Montempny Beauuoirs Beau Ien Voderon In Tourrayne Lisle Bouchart the Roche of Fowsey Piry Milieres Roulet Piergu Veres de Desrubay the Pleyssers Dinone Langere Osem Palnau and all other Fortresses in the party of Auvergne of Bourbonoys d' Amascon of Lyon of Berry and of Touraine And within a Month after the French King was to deliver up the Country of Angoulesmois or Hostages In Normandy Anjou and Mayne The Fortresses de Donefront in Passais Neuim Mirebel upon the Loyre the Toures de Villers Saintwast the Brois Demaine Conde upon Noire and another Fortress thereby called Messe Tynchebray Annillers the new Boure the Ferte freswel the Roche Doryvall the Morle Racul the Tower of St. Christopher Villerais Husron Honnesfleth Trisenay the Vicount of Plessoys Buret la Rouche dire le Port Ioulein la Flesche Willie Viez Passavant Roussailes And within one Month the French King was to surrender Santes and the County of Santoigne or Hostages And all the Fortresses in Pierregort Coursin and Agenoys For the surrender of all which the King made forth Commissions to several persons bearing date as aforesaid at Calais The two Kings then also made a League for them their Heirs and Successors of perpetual friendship and alliance to become faithful friends to assist each other against all persons whatsoever except the Pope and the Emperor and moreover made a solemn Renunciation to all Wars against each other their Heirs and Successors Realms and Subjects to both which League and Renunciation their eldest and other Sons signed and divers of the Nobility on both sides were sworn A Proclamation then also issued from King Edward directed to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and all other Captains of Towns c. held for the King in France to give notice to all places within their Command of this Peace and final accord made as aforesaid All things relating to this Peace being thus concluded and the French Hostages arrived at Calais King Edward entertained King Iohn at a great Supper in the Castle where the Kings Sons the Duke of Lancaster and other of the chief Nobility of England served the Kings bare-headed and when Supper was ended both Kings took leave of each other The next morning King Iohn and his Attendants went a foot on pilgrimage to our Lady of Bouloigne the Prince of Wales and his Brothers accompanied him thither where in the Church of our Lady they all made their Offerings and thence went to the Abby and having taken leave of King Iohn they returned to Calais the next day Soon after King Edward the Prince and French Hostages took shipping for England where they arrived on the Eve of the Feast of All-Saints The Peace thus setled endured all the life of King Iohn who took all possible care to have it entirely preserved and himself ever after kept good correspondence with King Edward to whom he gave all evidence of affection and love insomuch that about the end of the year 1363. he came into England only upon a visit to King Edward After his landing he rode first to Eltham and there dined with the King 24. Ian. 37. E. 3. and thence that afternoon to the Savoy in the Strand where he lodged and was entertained with all possible kindness but about the beginning of March following he fell sick and dyed the 8. of April an 38. E. 3. for whose death the King appointed solemn obsequies in divers places and conducted his Body out of England with a Royal magnificence About these times the Reputation of the King grew so great that several foreign Kings and Princes came hither to his Court either to visit him or congratulate his Victories or to obtain his assistance and relief and these were the foresaid King Iohn Peter King of Cyprus and David King of Scots an 37. E. 3. as also Wuldemer King of Denmark and Albert Duke of Bavaria his Letters of safe Conduct being dated the 6. of Dec. and to continue in force till Mid-summer after But Charles King Iohns Son and Successor who had sworn to and sealed the Treaty at Chartres was soon perswaded to violate the Peace though with great artifice he dissembled his intentions for some time For though he readily gave ear to the Complaints of some of the discontented Nobility of Gascoigne who quitting their Homage to the Prince fled to Paris and complained to him as their Supreme Lord of the Fouage imposed on that Country by the Prince pretending that King Iohn had not power to release them of their Homage to the Crown of France or deliver over their Country to the King of England Yet he forbore laying hold on this occasion at least for one year after their complaint But then all of a sudden King Edward not suspecting any fraud but thinking himself sufficiently secured by the Treaty of Peace made at Britagne the French King sent him a defiance and by the time it was thought to be delivered Guy Earl of St. Paul one of the French Hostages who had slipt out of the Kingdom without taking leave as had also the Duke of Anjou and some others of them and Sir Hugh de Castilion entred Ponthieu with an Army and were received into Abeville afterwards took St. Valery and Crotoy and immediately all Ponthieu revolted Hereupon the King assembled a Parliament at Westminster and about the end of May the Lords and Commons declared That whereas the French King had broke the foresaid Peace in not delivering the Countries nor paying the monies agreed on there and had usurped the Resort and Superiority which ought to appertain to the King of England and his Heirs in the Lands surrendred to him by the foresaid agreement by summoning the Prince and some of the Nobility of the Kings Allies to answer certain Appeals at Paris and surprised and taken divers Castles c. in Ponthieu and Gascoigne and was setting forth a Fleet to invade England contrary to his Oath and the form of the Peace therefore with their whole consent it was agreed That the King should resume the name of King of England and France as he had done before the Peace and for the future so call himself in his Letters and under his Seals Hereupon on Monday being St. Barnaby's day there were several new Seals provided in one of which was inscribed Edwardus Rex Angliae Franciae c. and in another Edwardus Rex Franciae Angliae c. Shortly after he sent an Army under the Command of the Earls of Cambridge and Penbroke into Aquitain who landing
Santonge repaired doing him Fealty and Homage then he departed for Bordeaux thither the Nobility and Knights of Gascoigne came to wait on him after which he setled English Officers in all places of his Principality and there kept his Court with great state and magnificence Immediately after the Election of Pope Vrban the Fifth Peter of Lusignan King of Cyprus and Ierusalem came to Avignon and there engaged Iohn King of France in a Crusade he thence went to the Emperor at Prague and afterwards into Flanders and England whence after he had been nobly entertained he returned to King Iohn then at Amiens and thinking he had not yet seen any thing till he had seen the Prince of Wales took a Journey to Poicters and so to Augoulesme where the Prince held a Royal Justs of 40 Knights and as many Esquires in honor of the birth of his Son Edward and here the King of Cyprus was received with great honor and nobly feasted while he stayed Not long after this Noble Prince was induced to re-establish Don Peter King of Castile who had made a personal application to him in so great distress being driven out of his Kingdom by his Bastard Brother Henry with the assistance of some part of the late disbanded Army called the late Comers or Companions under the command of Sir Bertrand de Guesclin and some English and Bretagn Forces that went along with them commanded by Sir Eustace Dabrichecourt and other Knights Hereupon the Prince first sent his Letters to remand them back and after which strengthened his undertaking he received aid from the King his Father commanded by Iohn of Gaunt his Brother Iames Son of Ferdinand King of Mojorca whom the King of Aragon had imprisoned at Barcelona and there put to death made also address to the Prince for assistance in the recovery of his Realm which the Prince promised after his return out of Spain whither he was then engaged and towards which he began his Voyage the Sunday after Epiphany an Dom. 1366. Upon his entry into Castile with 30000 Horse and Foot Don Henry prepared to give him Battel with 86000 the Armies joined between Navarr and Naveret on Saturday the 3. of April an 40. E. 3. and here the Prince got a Victory which re-established Don Pedro in his Kingdom thereupon Don Pedro went to Sevill and promised to return the Prince money to pay his Army but after four Months stay and expectation the Prince was constrained to return into Aquitane without any so forgetful was Don Pedro of the courtesies he had received from him This Victory got the Prince great renown throughout the Empire and the repute of being the valiantest Prince in that Age even worthy to govern all the World but in this Voyage he contracted a sickness he never recovered which his Physicians and Surgeons judged to be an incurable Dropsie others that he was poysoned In an Instrument dated about this time to wit 8. October 1366. whereby he granted to his Brother Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the Village and Castellaine of Roche sur Ion to him and his Heirs males I find him thus stiled Edward ainsne filz du Roy de France d' Engleterre Prince d' Aquitaine de Gales Duke de Cornwall Conte de Cestre Seigneur de Biscaie de Castre de Dordiales but after he had resigned the Principality of Aquitaine his Titles were these only Edwardus Regis Angliae Franciae primogenitus Princeps Walliae Dux Cornubiae Comes Cestriae 6. Feb. 49. E. 3. so an 47. E. 3. vide Lib. Miscell R. Glover Somerset p. 111. Some time after his return into Aquitaine the discontented Gascoigners and French taking occasion to rebel upon raising a Subsidy called Fouage for 5 years consented to by most of his Subjects viz. the Poictouins and they of Xanctonge Limosin Rouergue and Rochell but other parts of Guine refused entred in a hostile manner the Princes Territories whereupon Sir Hugh Caurel coming out of Aragon to the Prince was made Captain of the Companions whom he had sent for out of Normandy and ordered to march with them into the Country of the Earl of Armaignac and the Lord d' Albret two of the great Ring-Leaders of the Rebellion new begun to wast those parts He also had sent before a body Commanded by Sir Iohn Chandos to Montauban and a third under the Command of the Earl of Cambridge and Penbroke into Perigort and which took Bourdeilles after 11. Weeks Siege After this the Prince receiving Intelligence that two Armies under the conduct of the Dukes of Anjou and Berry were design'd to enter Aquitaine and besiege him in Angoulesme resolved his Enemies should not find him there and therefore summond in the Nobility and appointed a Rendevouz at Cognac leaving his Princess at Angoulesme but taking his young Son Richard with him The King of England having upon this great rupture of the Peace concluded at Bretigny resumed his Name and Title to the Crown of France sent forthwith to the Prince to give him notice that the Parliament at Westminster had Ordained that all his Subjects of what Nation or condition soever should maintain his Interest against his Enemies in the Realm of France to recover and conquer the same And likewise directed his Letters to the Nobility of Gascoigne desiring their assistance herein The year following he sent over Iohn Duke of Lancaster his third Son to the assistance of this Prince and gave him Commission to receive into favour and wholly pardon such of his Cities Castles Towns and Inhabitants aswell in Aquitaine as other parts of France as should return to his Obedience and to do and exercise all powers given in his said Commission with the consent of the Prince if present and in his absence what the King could do in his assistance if personally there And that care might be taken in Civil Affairs the King having reserved to himself the Soveraignty and resort in those Territories sent a blank Commission for the Prince to insert the names of such as he should think fit to appoint for Judges or Delegate to hear all Causes as well Criminal as Civil upon Appeals from the Princes Courts The Duke of Lancaster shortly after arrived at Bordeaux and came to the Prince at Cognac but the Duke of Anjou thought better to withdraw his Forces into Garrisons than to fall into action The Duke of Berry took Limoges which the Prince retaking put the Inhabitants to the Sword and burnt the Town But the Prince's disease growing daily upon him he was advised by his Physicians and Chirurgeons to return into England for the recovery of his health which caused him to assemble the Nobility of Aquitaine Gascoigne Poictou and Santonge at Bordeux to whom he communicated his intentions and withal that he would leave the Duke of
during pleasure But the following year these Dignities were committed to him alone He married Ioane Daughter of Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent Sister and Heir of Iohn Earl of Kent in whose right he sate in Parliament an 34. E. 3. as Earl of that County after whose death Edward Prince of Wales married her whose Widow she remained till an 9. R. 2. and then died By this Lady he had Issue two Sons Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and Iohn Holland Earl of Huntingdon and Duke of Exceter as also two Daughters Ioane and Maude the later was Wife to Hugh Courtney eldest Son to Sir Hugh Courtney one of the Founders of this Order an 39. E. 3. This noble Earl after the performance of many brave acts in the Kings Service died the 26. of December an 34. E. 3. Thomas his Son and Heir being then much about the tenth year of his age 15 Sir Iohn Grey of Codnore HE was eldest Son of Richard Lord Grey of Codnore in Derbyshire by Iane his Wife who had been Seneschal of Gascoigne in the Reign of King Edward the Second In that notable and famous Expedition made into Scotland an 7. E. 3. he had Command where his valour was so far taken notice of that not long after the King in part of recompence thereof and of his great expences in those Wars acquitted him of all such debts as he then owed unto his Exchequer Towards the end of the 9. year of E. 3. he went again to the Wars of Scotland being of the Retinue of Hugh Andley and two years after in another Expedition then made thither An. 12. E. 3. he attended the King into Flanders and an 14. E. 3. went over thither when by the way that famous Naval Fight hapned neer Sluce The following year he undertook employment in the Scotish Wars An. 18. E. 3. he with Nicholas de Langford and Edward de Chandos were assigned to Array all able men in Derbyshire from 16 to 60 years of age and to have them in readiness to march with them or others whom the King should appoint within three days warning against the Scots then ready to invade this Kingdom The following year he went in the Retinue of Henry Earl of Derby into Gascoigne and in regard he stayed there the next year in the Kings Service his Lands in Kent were exempted from finding men for guarding the Sea-Coasts With this Earl he returned to England and went to Calais in his Retinue an 21. E. 3. and stayed there the following year There being an Invasion threatned by the French an 26. E. 3. he was joined in Commission with the Lord Deyncourt to Array all able persons in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and to conduct them to such places as might stand in need of them for defence of the Realm He went in the Expedition which the foresaid Earl made into Breâ—â—gne an 29. E. 3. And after attended the King in his Voyage royal into France an 33. E. 3. and the same year was constituted Governour of the Town and Castle of Rochester for life More of his Military Services we find not before he obtained the Kings License an 39. E. 3. to go on Pilgrimage And an 45. E. 3. being grown very aged and not able to endure Travel he obtained a special Dispensation wherein his many and great Services performed with much fidelity and valour are by the King acknowledged to exempt him from coming to Parliaments to which he had received Summons from the time of his Fathers death which hapned an 9. E. 3. and Councils and charging him with setting forth of Soldiers in the Wars for the future He married Alice de Insula by whom he had Henry his eldest Son who married Ioane Daughter of Reginald Cobham of Sterborough but died before his Father and Iohn his second Son who both went in the Retinue of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in his Expedition into France an 43. E. 3. and Alice a Daughter Wife of William Son of Sir Adam de Everingham of Laxton in the County of Nottingham 16. Sir Richard Fitz Simon WE have met with little concerning this Noble Knight but that he had command under Henry of Lancaster Earl of Derby in Gascoigne an 19. E. 3. The following year he went with Robert Vfford Earl of Suffolk when he attended the King in his Expedition into France An. 21. E. 3. he was imployed in the Kings Service beyond Sea and lastly he was in command under the Prince of Wales an 22. E. 3. and in these Expeditions he performed so great Services that he was thought worthy to be Elected one of the first Founders of this most Noble Order 17. Sir Miles Stapleton THis Sir Miles Stapleton was Son and Heir to Sir Miles Stapleton of Bedall in the County of York Knight His first employment in the Wars was when King Edward the Third made his Expedition into Bretagne He also attended the King in his Voyage Royal into France an 20. E. 3. and lay at the Seige before Calais An. 23. E. 3. about the Month of Iuly he was employed in the Kings Service beyond Sea and the like an 29. E. 3. In the 30. year of King Edward the Third Philip Brother to the King of Naevarre taken Prisoner by the French King the year before came over into England and obtained assistance for recovery of his Lands in Normandy whereupon the King joyned to him this Sir Miles Stapleton a man of great integrity and in martial affairs very skillful as Froissard Characterizeth him These two with 2000. men passed through Normandy and as they marched took and burnt several Towns and Fortresses till they came within 9. Leagues of Paris and did not retreat till they had forced the French to enter into Truce for a Year For this Expedition the said Philip of Navarre was constituted the Kings Captain and Lieutenant in the Dutchy of Normandy In consideration of the constant fidelity and eminent valour of this Noble Knights as also his great service in the Wars the King granted to him a Pension of 100 l. per annum out of his Exchequer for life until he had that annual value in Lands or Rents provided for him And shortly after Upon information that several injuries and damages had been done to the French by the English after and against the Truce taken near Chartres the King desirous that it should be kept without violation and the infringers thereof punished constituted him with Sir Nele Loring and Sir Richard Stafford his Commissioners to inform themselves of the way and manner how these injuries might be discovered and repaired and gave them power to arrest and imprison to seize and confiscate their Estates and to punish them according as they