Enlargement of the Castle was made, seeing there was then great Store
of the ablest Diggers and Masons impress’d, by virtue of Writs directed
to the several Sheriffs, with Command under 100 _l._ Penalty to send
them to _Windsor_ the _Sunday_ after the Feast of St. _George_, to work
at the Kings Charge, from whence they were not to depart without
_Wyckham_’s License, Security having been first taken by the Sheriffs,
and returned into _Chancery_. _London_ found Forty; _Essex_, in
conjunction with _Hertford_, Forty; _Wilts_, _Leicester_, with
_Worcester_, _Cambridge_, with _Huntington_ Forty, _Kent_,
_Gloucester_, _Somerset_, with _Devon_, and _Northampton_, one with
another, found also Forty a-piece. And because divers of these Workmen,
for Gain and Advantage, clandestinely left _Windsor_ to the Hindrance
of the Work, all Persons were forbid to employ or retain them under
Forfeiture of all they had, and likewise to arrest those that withdrew
themselves from the Work, and commit them to _Newgate_. _A._ 36. _Ed._
III. many of them being swept away by the Pestilence, the like Writs
were directed to other Sheriffs, under a Hundred Pound Penalty, to send
able Men; whereupon the Counties of _York_ sent Sixty, _Derby_ Twenty
Four, _Salop_ Sixty, _Hereford_ Fifty, _Nottingham_ Twenty Four,
_Lancaster_ Twenty Four, and _Devon_ Sixty. _A._ 37. _Ed._ III. The
noble Edifice was ready for Glazing, and of Twenty Four of that
Occupation impress’d for the King’s Service, Twelve were to be employed
at _Windsor_. In this Year and the next a great Proficiency was made,
and vast Quantities of Stone were amassed, dug out of the Quarries of
_Wellesfor_, _Newel_, and _Carby_, and other Places. From the 37th to
the 43d, the Building of the Castle was diligently pursued. We find no
Addition to this august Pile till his 48th Year, and after that Time
nothing more during his Reign, so that it is supposed this Famous Piece
for Magnificence and Strength was then chiefly finished, _viz._ the
Great Hall of St. _George_, the Lodgings on the East and South side of
the Upper Ward, the Keep or Tower in the Middle Ward, the Chapel of St.
_George_, the Houses for the Custos and the Canons in the Lower Ward,
with the whole Circumference of the Walls, their several Towers and
Gates, as in the present Posture they remain.
IN succeeding Times King _Hen._ VII. added that stately Fabrick
adjoining to the King’s Lodgings, in the Upper Ward. King _Hen._ VIII.
re-edified the great Gate at the Entrance into the Lower Ward. King
_Edw._ VI. began, and Queen _Mary_ perfected the Conveying the Water,
from _Blackmore-Park_ in _Wingfield_ Parish, into a Fountain of curious
Workmanship erected in the Middle Ward, which supplied all the Castle.
Queen _Elizabeth_ made a Terrace Work on the North side of the Castle;
from whence there is a pleasant Prospect down upon _Eaton-bridge_, the
_Thames_, and the adjacent Country. King _Charles_ I. _A. D._ 1636.
built the Gate at the East end of the Terrace, which leads into the
Park. And lastly, King _Charles_ II. greatly beautified and repair’d
the Fabrick, and furnish’d it with a curious Armory; and, in fine,
every Thing is so fitly disposed and ordered, that they are worthy of
the Notice of every nice and curious Traveller.
CAMDEN elegantly describes its Situation in Prose in this manner: _From
an Hill_ (says he) _that rises with a gentle Ascent, it enjoyeth a most
delightful Prospect round about; foreright, in the Front, it
overlooketh a Vale, lying out far and wide, garnished with Corn Fields,
flourishing with Meadows, deck’d with Groves on either side, and
watered with the most mild and calm River_ Thames. _Behind it arise
Hills every where, neither rough nor over high, attired, as it were
with Woods, and even dedicated, as one would say, by Nature, to hunting
Game._
And thus _Denham’s_ Muse pourtrays it:
Windesor, #the next (where# Mars #with# Venus #dwells,
Beauty with Strength) above the Valley swells
Into my Eye, and doth it self present
With such an easy and unforc’d ascent,
That no stupendious Precipice denies
Access, no horror turns away our Eyes;
But such a Rise as doth at once invite
A Pleasure, and a reverence from our sight.
Thy mighty Masters Emblem, in whose face
Sat Meekness heightned with Majestick Grace;
Such seems thy gentle height, made only proud
To be the Basis of that pompous Load.
Than which a nobler weight no Mountain bears
But Atlas only that supports the Spheres.#
This Castle is under the Government of a Constable, so call’d in the
Reign of King _John_, and has bore that Denomination ever since: The
Office is of great Antiquity, Honour and Power, but of small Revenue,
for it is partly Military and Civil; as Military he commands the Castle
and any Garrison placed therein, and is obliged to defend it against
all Enemies whatsoever; all the Prisoners brought hither are committed
to his Charge, and is answerable for all that is in the Castle to the
King, under whom he is Commander, as a Civil Officer. He is Judge of a
Court of Record held there by Prescription, for determining, by way of
Common Law, all Pleas between Party and Party, arising within the
Precincts of the Forest of _Windsor_, and Liberties thereof, which
compriseth many Towns; and all legal Processes issue out in his Name.
He is allowed a Deputy learned in the Law, who is called the Steward of
the Court of Record, and is Keeper of the Constable’s Seal of Office.
This Officer supplies the Constable’s Place as a Judge of the Court of
_Common Pleas_, from whose Judgment the Appeal is by Writ of Error
returnable in the _King’s-Bench_, or _Common Pleas_ at _Westminster_.
The Constable is likewise Forester and Warden of the Forest of
_Windsor_, which is an 120 Miles in compass. He hath under him one or
more Lieutenants at his Pleasure, and may imprison any Trespasser in
Vert and Venison Convict, having a Prison in the Castle for that
Purpose, named the _Coalhole_. He hath the Freedom of using the Sports
of the Forest, which is granted to no Person without his or the King’s
License, and signs all Warrants to kill Deer, (except what the King
signs) and is to fell Timber and Wood.
HE that was _Chastelain_ (the _French_ Word for Constable) in _William
the Conqueror_’s Reign was _Walter Fitz Other_, from whom the Family of
the Barons of _Windsor_ are descended, and the Earls of _Plimouth_,
bearing the Surname of _Windsor_, _Temp. Car._ II. Prince _Rupert_ was
Constable.
WE come next to the Chapel of St. _George_, which is situate in the
Lower Ward or Court of this Castle, and so named by King _Edw._ III.
shortly after he had founded the College mention’d in the next Section;
he having pulled down the old Chapel erected there by King _Henry_ I.
and dedicated to King _Edward the Confessor_, to raise a more stately
Structure in its stead; to bring which Matter to Perfection, in the
24th Year of his Reign, _John de Spoulee_ had the Office of Master of
the Stone-Hewers, and had Power to provide Masons, and other
Artificers, to whose Care they were entrusted. In _Anno_ 25. _Ed._ I.
_John de Dorchester_, Sub-Constable of the Castle, was appointed to
keep a Controul upon all the Provisions bought for the Works of the
Chapel, as well as on the Payments, and all other Affairs relating
thereunto. To this Fabrick he erected several Houses adjoining, for the
Custos and Canons to reside in; and afterwards King _Hen._ IV. gave
them the void Place in the Castle call’d the _Woodhall_, nigh the great
Hall, for building of Houses and Apartments for the Vicars, Clerks, and
Choristers, and the other Ministers, assigned for the Service of the
Chapel; but King _Edw._ IV. observing the Walls and Foundation of the
Chapel sapped and consumed, and esteeming the Fabrick not stately or
spacious enough, designed another more noble and excellent in its Room:
In order to it _Richard Beauchamp_, Bishop of _Salisbury_, was
constituted Master and Surveyor of the Work, who had Power from the
King to remove all Impediments, demolished divers of the Officiary
Houses, and other irregular Piles and decay’d Walls, and dug up their
Foundations, particularly those ancient Buildings on the East side of
the Chapel, which extended unto the Walls on the North side of the
Castle, where the Towers, _viz._ _Clurey_’s Tower, and _Le Amenery_’s
Tower, and _Barney_’s Tower, were situated; as also on the South side
of the Chapel, unto the Belfry there, exclusively; the Materials
whereof he might bestow upon any Buildings in the Castle, as he thought
convenient. How well the Bishop discharged this Office, appears from
the Preamble of his Patent, whereby that King conferred on him the
Chancellorship of the _Garter_, in which is set forth, _That out of
meer Love towards the Order, he had given himself the Leisure daily to
attend the Advancement and Progress of this goodly Fabrick_.
FROM this Erection of K. _Ed._ IV. arose the elegant and beauteous
Structure now standing, enlarged in Length at least an Hundred Fathom
(tho’ it did not arrive to its Perfection until the Reign of King
_Henry_ VIII.) together with the Dean and Canons Houses on the North
side of the Chapel, and those of the Petty Canons raised at the West
End, in form of a Fetter-lock (one of King _Edward_ the IVth’s Badges)
and so vulgarly call’d. _Temp. Henry_ VII. Sir _Reginald Bray_, Knight
of the _Garter_, became a liberal Benefactor, finishing the Body of the
Chapel, and rearing the Middle Chapel on the South thereof, which still
retains his Name, and where his Body lies interred, as is manifest by
his Arms, Badges, _&c._ cut in Stone, and by his last Will. _Anno_ 21.
_Hen._ VII. _John Hylmer_ and _William Vertue_, Free Masons, undertook
the Vaulting the Roof of the Choir (a curious Piece of Architecture)
for 700 _l._ and finish’d it by _Christmas_, 1508. _Anno_ 8 _Henry_
VIII. the Rood Loft, and Lanthorn, were erected, with the Contributions
raised by the Knights Companions. Near to the East end of this Chapel,
was a little Fabrick of Free-Stone, raised by Cardinal _Wolsey_, call’d
the _Tomb House_, in the Middle whereof he designed to erect a Monument
for King _Henry_ VIII. and had almost finished it before he died; but
this was demolished, 1646. by command of the _Long Parliament_; and all
the Copper Figures, exceedingly enriched by Art, carry’d thence. This
Place King _Charles_ I. intended to enlarge, for the Interment of his
own Royal Body, and those of his Successors; but those villainous Times
drawn on, they with much ado afforded him but a mean obscure Place near
the first high Place in the Choir of this Chapel, in the same Vault
where the Bodies of King _Henry_ VIII. and his last Queen yet remain.
IN this Chapel, besides many of the Knights Companions, repose the Body
of King _Hen._ VI. removed from _Chertsey_ Abbey in _Surrey_, deposited
under the Uppermost Arch at the South side of the Altar, without any
Monument or Inscription, and likewise that of King _Edw._ IV. under a
large Stone of Tuch, raised within the opposite Arch, at the North side
of the Altar, but without Inscription, having on the outside of his
Grave a Range of Steel gilt, to inclose it from the North Isles, cut
excellent well in Church-work.
OVER this Arch hung this King’s Coat of Mail, cover’d over with Crimson
Velvet, and thereon the Arms of _England_ and _France_ quarter’d and
richly embroider’d with Pearl and Gold, interwoven with divers Rubies;
which Trophy had remain’d over his Monument ever since his Interment,
till plunder’d by Captain _Fogg_, 1642. who at the same time
sacrilegiously robb’d the Chapel of all its Altar-Plate.
WITHIN this Chapel were several Chantries endow’d with Lands and other
Revenues, for Chaplains and Priests to sing Masses for the Souls of
their Founder’s Kindred.
_William_ of _Wickham_, Bishop of _Winchester_, in 3 _Hen._ IV. gave
Two Hundred Marks to the Dean and Chapter, to buy Twenty Marks _per
Annum_ to maintain one Chaplain.
18 _Ed._ IV. The Feoffees of _Richard_, Duke of _Glocester_, gave the
Mannors of _Bentfieldbury_ in _Essex_, _Knapton_ in _Norfolk_, and
_Chetlesworth_ in _Suffolk_, for a daily Mass.
22 _Ed._ IV. Sir _Thomas St. Leger_ founded a Chantry of Two Priests,
who were to officiate in the middle Chapel on the North Side of the
Church; and the said King, by his Will, ordain’d Two Priests to serve
at his Tomb, with an Exhibition of Twenty Marks yearly a-piece.
9 _Hen._ VII. There was another Chantry Priest assign’d for _Thomas
Pasche_ and _William Hermer_, &c. who was to perform his Office at the
Altar on the North Side the new Church.
13 _Hen._ VII. _Margaret_, Countess of _Richmond_, founded a Chantry
for Four Chaplains, to celebrate Mass in the East Part of the new Work
of the Chapel.
18 _Hen._ VII. _William_, Lord _Hastings_, founded a Chantry for One
Priest, on the North Side of the Choir, about the middle whereof this
Lord lies.
21 _Hen._ VII. _Charles Somerset_, Lord _Herbert_, (afterwards Earl of
_Worcester_) left a Secular Priest for a daily Mass, _&c._ to be said
in the South Chapel dedicated to the Virgin _Mary_, where he lies
interr’d. Both these Lords have built Appartments adjoyning for their
Chantry Priests, now to be seen and distinguish’d by their Arms,
garter’d and cut in Stone over their several Doors.
TO these we shall add the Foundation of the new Commons, erected over
against the North Door of the Body of St. _George_’s Chapel, by _James
Denton_ one of the Canons, _Anno_ 11 _Hen._ VIII. for the Lodging and
Dieting such of the Chantry Priests, Choristers and stipendiary
Priests, who had before no certain Place where to hold Commons in,
which he furnish’d with all proper Utensils, the Charge amounting to
489 _l._ 7 _s._ 1 _d._ in lieu of which the Choristers were to say
certain Prayers when they enter’d the Chapel, commemorate his Death,
and pray for his and the Souls of all the Faithful departed.
IN this Chapel of St. _George_ there were heretofore several
Anniversaries or Obits held and celebrated, which we pass over. And as
it was usual for some of the military Profession to spend the Remains
of their Lives in pious Speculations, for their King and Country, and
the Salvation of their own Souls, Permission was allow’d to the
well-dispos’d _Knights of the Garter_, who retir’d from the Noise and
Bustle of the World, to make their Abode there; yet so as to maintain
themselves out of their own Revenues. King _Henry_ VIII. ordain’d that
the Sovereign should assign them convenient Appartments within the
Castle; and the like Favour he granted to other Knights, tho’ not of
the Order; but the Lodgings to be such as the Sovereign and Knights
Companions should decree: However, we do not find the Knights
Companions made use of the Benefit, but only for their better
Accommodation at the grand Feast of the Order, _&c._ A Motion was made,
14 _Car._ I. that they might have Lodgings assign’d them in the great
Court, which they offer’d to repair at their own Charge, since all the
Officers had Conveniencies in the Castle, but the Knights Companions
none, which the King did not dissent to, provided it be without
Exclusion of the great Officers of State.
§ 3. WITHIN the Chapel of the Castle, erected by King _Henry_ I. was
founded a College for Eight Canons, to be maintain’d by an annual
Pension out of the Exchequer. King _Edw._ II. founded here a Chantry
for Four Chaplains and Two Clerks; as likewise a Chapel in the Park of
_Windsor_, under the same Regulation, for Four more Chaplains, whom
King _Edw._ III. remov’d and joyn’d to those before settled in the
Chapel of the Castle, and built Habitations for their better
Accommodation, on the South Side thereof.
THE Foundation we treated of here was confirm’d by Letters Patent,
dated at _Westminster_, _Aug._ 6. 22 _Edw._ III. three Quarters of a
Year before he erected _The Order of the Garter_, when he laid the
Foundation of the ancient Chapel a-fresh, in honour of God, the Virgin
_Mary_, St. _George_ and St. _Edward the Confessor_; and ordain’d, that
to King _Henry_’s Eight Canons there should be annex’d One Custos,
Fifteen more Canons, and Twenty Four Alms-Knights, together with other
Ministers, all under the Power of the Custos, and these to be supported
out of the Revenues wherewith this Chapel should be endow’d: Upon which
Pope _Clement_ VI. 1351. by his Bull directed to the Arch-bishop of
_Canterbury_ and Bishop of _Winchester_, approved in part the King’s
Intention.
THE next Year the Statutes and Ordinances of the College commenc’d, by
Virtue of the Pope’s Authority, the King’s Command, and Consent of the
Bishop of _Salisbury_, in whose Diocess the Chapel is situate. By which
Statutes, _Winchester_ (one of the Pope’s Delegates) instituted a
College, within the Precincts of the Chapel of St. _George_, consisting
of one Custos, Twelve Secular Canons, Thirteen Priests or Vicars, Four
Clerks, Six Choristers, and Twenty Six Alms-Knights, besides other
Officers.
DEAN.
§ 4. THE first Custos was _John de la Chambre_, constituted Nov. 14. 22
_Edw._ III. to whom succeeded _William Mugg_, on the 18th of June
following: Which _Mugg_ is the first, if the Institution of the College
bears Date by Papal, and not Kingly Authority. After him were others
that were call’d by the same Title; till the last Year of King _Henry_
IV. when _Thomas Kingston_ was presented by the Name of Dean; and his
Successor, _John Arundel_, observing divers Endowments granted to the
College alternately, by the Name of Custos, Dean and Custos, or lastly
of Dean only; and doubting this Variation of Titles in Time might bring
Inconveniences upon the Foundation, petition’d the Parliament, 8 _Hen._
VI. whereupon the King, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal, granted
that the said _John_ should be _Custos sive Decanus_ for Life, and his
Successors _Custodes sive Decani_, Wardens or Deans of the Free Chapel
of St. _George_, within the Castle of _Windsor_; and that the Custos,
or Dean and Canons thereof, and their Successors, by that Appellation,
should have and hold, to them and their Successors for ever, all Lands,
Tenements, _&c._ Liberties, _&c._ devolv’d upon the College at any Time
before: So that here was a kind of new Incorporation, by the Title of
Custos, or Deans and Canons only; at least this was a great Step to
compleat the Privilege they after enjoy’d, when thro’ the Interest of
_Richard Beauchamp_, Bishop of _Salisbury_, then also Dean of
_Windsor_, and Chancellor of the Order, King _Edw._ IV. by Letters
Patent dated _Dec._ 6. in the 19th Year of his Reign, model’d them by
the Name of Dean and Canons of the Free Chapel of St. _George_ within
the Castle of _Windsor_, one Body corporate in Thing and Name, with a
perpetual Succession, and capable in Law to purchase, receive and take
Lands, _&c._ in Fee and Perpetuity; to have a common Seal, and might
plead and be impleaded by that Name; and for better Security, the
Letters Patent of Incorporation were, within Three Years after, pass’d
into an Act of Parliament now in force.
THE Authority of the Custos or Dean consists in being President over
the rest of the College; to govern, direct and order them their Goods
and Estates. He has all manner of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over
them, with a Reservation of Power of Appeal to the Chancellor of
_England_, who is Visitor of that College.
WHEN any Persons lead Lives inordinate, he with the Chapter (in Cases
where no particular Penalty is appointed) may reprehend or correct at
Discretion; and in Matters of Discord, shall within Eight Days
reconcile the contending Parties, or do Justice. After thrice
Admonition, may expel from the College all Sowers of Discord,
Backbiters and Whisperers, that are below the Degree of a Canon. And
that there be no defect of Government, when the Dean has Occasion to be
absent above Eight Days, he shall appoint One of the Canon Residents
for his Deputy, in whose absence he has the Title of Lieutenant, and on
all Occasions to exercise his Office; for the Statutes allow him Sixty
Days in a Year for Non-residence; which space the Royal Visitation,
1552. enlarg’d to One Hundred and Ten Days; and the Lord Chancellor
_Hyde_ granted him Liberty of Six Weeks absence. But in the Vacancy of
the Custos, the Chapter has all his Power conferr’d on them; which
Chapter ought, within Two Days after the Vacancy made known, elect one
of the Resident Canons, under the Title of President, to govern the
College until they be provided of another Custos.
CANONS.
THE Canons, by the Letters Patent of the first Erection, were appointed
to be Twenty Four, including the Custos; but upon the Institution of
the College by the Bishop of _Winton_, there was ordain’d, as
afore-noted, One Custos, Twelve Secular Canons, and Thirteen Priests or
Vicars, in all Twenty Six, compleatly the Number of _The Knights of the
Garter_: And for a fuller Distinction between these Canons Secular and
the Priests, the first Twelve are, in a Bull of Pope _Innocent_ VIII.
nam’d _Majores Canonici_, the others _Minores_, or Petty-Canons. To
these Twelve Seculars were assign’d so many Prebendships in the Chapel
of St. _George_ (as also Stalls in the Choir and Place in the Chapter)
together with that held by the Custos, whence they are frequently
styl’d Prebends, and have a sacerdotal Power; for if they are not in
full Orders before they are instal’d, they must, within a Year after
they have enjoy’d their Prebendship, be ordain’d a Priest, or quit the
Benefice.
BY the Bull of Pope _Clement_ VI. the Right of presenting the Canons,
Priests, Clerks, Alms-Knights and other Ministers, were reserv’d to the
Founder and his Successors; yet we find the first Canons were presented
to the Custos, by the Founders of _The Order of the Garter_ _viz._ the
Twenty Five first Knights Companions, every one presenting singularly;
yet this was but with the Sovereign’s Permission, _Pro hac vice_; and
that none of them should be entitled to it hereafter but the Sovereign
alone. And because it might the more effectually be observ’d, the
Custos was oblig’d upon every Canon’s Death, to signify the same to the
Sovereign, that he might pitch on One to succeed; which being
nominated, he is approved, instituted, and instal’d, by the Custos or
Dean, to whom he swears Canonical Obedience, and Observance of the
Statutes.
THE principal Duty of these Canons (and of all the other Ministers of
the College) is continually to attend upon the Service of God in the
Chapel of St. _George_; and the Statutes run upon each Day’s Omission
of a Canon Resident, to be mulcted his _quotidian_ Distribution 12 _d._
And tho’ we find no License of Non-Residence granted them by their
Founder, yet there is mention of Canons Resident and Non-Resident, for
whom great Defalcations are appointed to be made, to prevent such
Neglects, because the residentiary Canons bear not only the Burden of
that Duty belonging to the Chapel, but the Expence of Hospitality and
other Works of Charity, occasion’d from their residing at _Windsor_.
_Richard Beauchamp_, Bishop of _Salisbury_, obtain’d Power from
_Sextus_ IV. to make new Statutes, and dispens’d with the old Ones; and
in 1478. he gave to the Dean and every Canon Fourteen Days of
Non-Residence in every Term, to wit, Fifty Six Days in the Year. By the
Visitation, 1552. they obtain’d a Dispensation for Eighty Days; and the
Lord Chancellor _Hatton_ yet gave them a further Permission to Two
Hundred and Two Days, which the Lord Chancellor _Hyde_ confirm’d; so
that there remains One Hundred and Sixty Three Days in the Year, in
which the Canons ought to be resident with Hospitality, to be consonant
to their Statutes.