Religiousness, Sincerity, Friendliness, Faithfulness and Dexterity, not
to leave the Pursuit of whatsoever they take in hand, nor to enterprize
any Thing contrary to the Statutes of the Order; neither to frustrate
the Rights of Peace and Friendship, nor vilify the Law of Arms, or
proceed in any Thing farther than Faith and Compact, or the Bond of
Friendship will admit. Moreover, in the binding of the Leg with this
enobled Ensign, there was given this Caveat and Exhortation, that the
Knights should not pusillanimously (by running away from Battle) betray
the Valour and Renown which is ingrafted in Constancy and Magnanimity.
Nay, so exactly did the Founder contrive the whole Habit into the
Signification of the Garter, that he ordain’d his and the
Knights-Companions Robes and Ornaments to be all alike, both for
Materials and Fashion, intimating thereby, That they ought to conserve
brotherly Affection among themselves. The great Collar of the Order was
made of equal Weight, and like Number of Knots and Links, in Token of
the like Bond of Faith, Peace and Amity inviolably to be observ’d and
retain’d amongst them: In fine, all Things were so design’d, that every
one might plainly perceive how much these Things tended to the
Maintenance of Amity and Concord.
IN further reference to the establishing this Order, the aforesaid
King calling together the Earls, Barons, and principal Knights of his
Kingdom, _Freely_, says _Froissart_, _and obligingly declar’d his
Mind to them concerning this Affair_: To which _all of them being
well inclin’d, entertain’d the Motion with equal Joy and Applause,
deeming it would prove a very great Advancement to Piety, Nobility
and Vertue, and likewise an excellent Expedient for the uniting not
only his Subjects one with another, but all Foreigners conjunctively
with them, in the Bonds of Amity and Peace_. And ’tis very improbable
the prudent Founder should summon his Nobles to consult about the
Grandeur of an Order, that had taken its Rise from so slight an
Occasion as the dropping of a Garter from a Lady’s Leg. Now, to draw
the Tye of Friendship more close, the King caused those who were (or
should be) of the Order, to be call’d _Fellows_, _Associates_,
_Colleagues_, _Brethren_, and _Knights-Companions_, and the Order it
self a _Society_, _Fellowship_, _College of Knights_, and
_Knight-Companionship_; and their Habits to be all alike, to
represent how they ought to be united in all Chances and various
Turns of Fortune; Co-partners both in Peace and War, assistant to one
another in all serious and dangerous Exploits; and thro’ the whole
Course of their Lives to shew Fidelity and Friendliness one towards
another. There are other Reasons assign’d, much to the same Effect,
That the Order was instituted _to fortifie the Confidence of the
King, the Kingdom and Martial Vertue_; that is to say, _to strengthen
the Faith of the Subjects towards them, and for their greater
Security_, and _because the Garter carries with it a Bond or Tye of
Fellowship, and is a Symbol of Amity between Princes, being
Companions of the same Order_.
IN the last Place, if we look upon the Statutes of its Institution, we
shall find the Injunctions wholly Military, and so are the Words of
Admonition pronounc’d at the putting on the Ensigns of the Order: And
the Ground of the Institution (in the Preamble to King _Henry_ VIII’s
_Exemplar_) is said to be _for the Honour of God and Exaltation of the
Catholick Faith, joyn’d both with Piety and Charity, in establishing a
College of religious Men to pray for the Prosperity of the Sovereign of
the Order and the Knights-Companions, and to perform other holy
Duties_; as also _ordaining a Maintenance for a Company of
Alms-Knights, who have not otherwise wherewith to support themselves_;
but not one Word relating to the Engagement on behalf of the feminine
Sex.
AND whereas King _Edw._ III. had laid Claim by his Title to the Kingdom
of _France_, and in Right thereof assum’d its Arms, he from the Colour
of them, ’tis said, caus’d the Garter to be made Blue, and the
Circumscription Gold: And it may, without straining, be inferr’d from
the Motto, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_, that he retorted Shame and
Defiance upon him that should dare to think amiss of so just an
Enterprize, as he had undertaken for recovering of his lawful Right to
that Crown; and that the Magnanimity and Bravery of those Knights, whom
he had elected into this Order, was such as would impower and enable
them to maintain the Quarrel against all who thought ill of it.
Consonant to this is the Conjecture of _Harpsfield_, that this
Apophthegm was design’d to put the Knights-Companions in mind, _Not to
admit any Thing in their Actions, or among their Thoughts, derogatory
to themselves and their Honour_.
THAT Age did exceedingly abound with Impresses, Motto’s and Devices,
and particularly King _Edw._ III. was so excessively given up to them,
that his Apparel, Plate, Bed, Houshold-Furniture, Shields, and even the
Harness of his Horses, and the like, were not without them, many of
which now to descant upon would be a fruitless Attempt, seeing the
Occasion of the Invention, and the Circumstances are lost, that should
illustrate them; and others, by reason of their Brevity, seem’d
insignificant, in regard something was designedly omitted, and left to
be understood, which cannot now be rightly supply’d, so as to arrive at
the Mind of the Inventor. Of this Number may be this Motto, _It is as
it is_, which was embroider’d upon a Doublet of that King; tho’ there
are others which seem more easy to be decypher’d; as that daring Motto
wrought upon his Surcoat and Shield provided to be used at a Turnament,
#Hay, Hay, the Wythe Swan;
By God’s Soul I am the Man.#
§ 3. THE Time when the Order was instituted, Historians differ widely
about; _Selden_, _Cowper_, and others, from _Froissart_ (who wrote
_temp. Rich._ II.) would have it in the 18th of King _Edw._ III. But
since _Froissart_ errs, in making the Number of Knights-Companions no
fewer than Forty, which is a grand Mistake, Why might not he trip in
Point of Time, and confound the Year of its Erection, with that wherein
the Founder renew’d the Order of _The Round Table_, _Windsor_ being the
Place for both. For should we admit, that during some Part of the
Solemnity held in this King’s 18th Year, when the Accident of the
Lady’s Garter slipping off happen’d, what other Inference can be made,
but that he had only an Intention to put in Execution somewhat
afterwards? Not that an Order was actually erected at that Time:
Besides, the Jollity of the Season, the Greatness of the Concourse, and
the Splendidness of the Festivity, it was too busy a Time to suffer
much Consultation tending thereunto; or at least to mould and model a
Design so compleat and substantial, as it appears to have been even at
first. If we joyn _Fabian_, he is plain, that tho’ the King design’d
the Institution at the End of the Festival, (which he places between
_Candlemas_ and _Lent_, in the 19th, and not 18th Year of that King)
_Yet was it not then_, saith he, _but afterwards establish’d by him_.
Nevertheless, Mr. _Selden_ elsewhere observes, it had its Original in
the 24th Year of the said King. And our industrious _Stow_ (with whom
_Lily_, _Speed_, and _Segar_ agree) tells us, _That the first Feast of
the Order was celebrated_ A. D. 1350. which exactly agrees to the 24th
of _Edward_ III. But _Polydore Virgil_ places it after the 25th of
_Edward_ III. We must therefore have recourse to some other Proofs for
elucidating this Point, since this Chronological _Æra_ of the true Time
of its Institution hath wonderfully slipp’d the Pens of all Writers.
ADMITTING then that the erecting this Order was first thought of by
King _Edward_, at some of those grand Assemblies of _The Round Table_,
held after the _French_ King had set up the like; yet was it not
mature, or brought to any Perfection, till after his glorious Victories
and Triumphs over the _French_ and _Scots_ in the Battles of _Cressy_
and _Nevil_’s Cross, (in the last of which the _Scotch_ King, _David_,
was taken Prisoner) and until King _Edward_ had _Calais_ surrendred to
him, as will appear very conspicuous.
AMONG the Rolls of the Great Wardrobe, is one containing the Account of
all the King’s Liveries, from _Michaelmas Anno_ 21, to the 31st of
_Jan._ 23 _Edw._ III. In the same are divers Things mention’d to be
adorn’d with Garters, which were provided against the first grand Feast
of St. _George_; and among the rest, the Royal Robes, _viz._ his
Mantle, Surcoat and Hood; likewise a Bed of Blue Taffaty was bedeck’d
with Garters, containing the Motto, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_. There
were made for the Sovereign Three Harnesses, whereof Two were of White
Velvet, wrought over with Garters _de blu & diaspris per totum
compedmein cum Woodhouses_; and the Third _de Velvetto Ynde cont.
Lappekin quisseux & caligas_, wrought over likewise with Garters. Had
the Roll been divided into Years, or had distinguishing Marks of Time
upon it, we might have been guided with more Certainty as to the true
Year of the Institution. However, we may thence conclude it was not
founded in the 18th of _Edw._ III. because that the Sovereign’s Robes
were not made until the 22d Year of his Reign at soonest; perhaps not
till the Beginning of the 23d. But to put the Matter beyond dispute,
the Founder’s Statutes fix the Time of Institution to his 23d Year; so
do the Statutes of King _Henry_ V. and the Preface to the _Black Book_,
_Leland_, _Mills_ and Dr. _Heylin_. To conclude, when he had fix’d upon
the Day and Place for celebrating the first grand Feast of this Order,
he sent his Heralds into _Germany_, _France_, _Scotland_, _Burgundy_,
_Hainault_, _Flanders_ and _Brabant_, to invite all Knights and
Esquires, (with Assurance of Safe-Conduct and Liberty for Fifteen Days,
both before and after the grand Solemnity) to shew their military
Prowess and other publick Exercises there to be perform’d, proper to
the Place and Occasion; agreeable to which Invitation, sundry Knights
and Gallant Men came over to signalize their Valour; and what made the
Solemnity more glorious, King _Edward_’s Queen was there present,
attended with Three Hundred of the fairest Ladies, in all imaginable
Splendor and Gaity.
§ 4. THE Patrons of the Order were several, under whose Protection
(according to the Custom of the Age) King _Edw._ III. put himself and
all the Knights-Companions, that the Affairs of the Order might be
defended, preserved and govern’d.
THE _first_ and chiefest which he elected, was the _Holy Trinity_,
which in a more especial Manner was invocated to the Aid and Assistance
of this Order.
_Secondly_, King _Edward_ III. intitled peculiarly the _blessed Virgin_
Mary, accounted then the general Mediatrix and Protectress of all Men;
unto whom King _Edward_ IV. was so strictly devoted, that he thought
some additional Ceremonies requisite to her farther Honour, and
thereupon ordain’d, that on her Five Solemnities the Knights Companions
should annually (as accustom’d on the Feast of St. _George_) wear the
Habit of the Order as long as Divine Service was celebrating, (unless
they had sufficient Cause of excuse) bearing on the right Shoulders of
their Robes a golden Figure of the Virgin _Mary_; and that they should
go in the same Manner and Habit upon all _Sundays_ throughout the Year;
and lastly, that on the same Days for ever they should say Five _Pater
Nosters_, with as many _Ave Maria’s_.
_Thirdly_, St. _George_ of _Cappadocia_, a most choice Champion of
Christ and famous Martyr, was also elected one of the Patrons to this
Order by King _Edward_ III. not so much as he was a Professor of the
Christian Faith, or for that he was an armed Soldier or Knight of
Christ, but so much the more because in those Wars, which were waged by
the Christians against the Infidels, he by several Appearances
manifested his Presence as a most certain Encourager and Assistant to
the Christians; the Relations whereof may be seen in Dr. _Heylin_’s
History, who hath laboriously and judiciously maintain’d the History of
this Saint, against those that will not allow him a Place in Heaven, or
a Being in the Church. In like manner the learned _Selden_ hath
avouch’d him to be the special Patron, Protector, Defender, and
Advocate of this Realm of _England_; and has made it plainly appear in
what Veneration he hath been honour’d abroad, especially among the
Eastern Nations. To whose corroborating Testimonies we shall add, That
this Title of Patron to our Nation, as given to St. _George_ by the
Founder of this Order, in a Patent granted to the Dean and Canons of
the Chapel of St. _Stephen_ at _Westminster_, and St. _George_ at
_Windsor_, which dischargeth them from Payment of Tythes; as also by
King _Henry_ VIII. in the Preamble of his Statutes. And tho’ in general
he is styl’d the Principal Patron of the Affairs of _Christendom_, and
a tutelar Guardian of military Men, yet among all Christians the
_English_ did excel; and in this Nation the Founder of this Order, in
making choice of such an approv’d expert Captain and Patron, in
particular Respect of whom the Knights had the Title of _Equites
Georgiani_, St. _George_’s Knights, and the Order it self came to be
call’d the _Ordo Divi Sancti Georgii_, The Order of St. _George_.
IT is remarkable, that _Du Chesne_, a noted _French_ Historian,
acknowledges it was by the special Invocation of St. _George_ that King
_Edward_ III. gain’d the Battle of _Cressy_, which afterwards bringing
to his Remembrance, _He founded_, says he, _a Chapel within the Castle
of_ Windsor. But if we may ascend a step higher, and give credit to
_Harding_, it’s recorded King _Arthur_ paid St. _George_ particular
Honours, for he advanc’d his Picture in one of his Banners, which was
about Two Hundred Years after his Martyrdom, and very early for a
Country so remote from _Cappadocia_ to have him in Reverence and Esteem.
_Lastly_, The Founder added a fourth Patron, whose Name himself bore,
_viz._ St. _Edward the Confessor_, his Predecessor, King of _England_;
and we find he was wont to be invocated by this Founder, as well as St.
_George_, in any great Difficulties and Streights. _Walsingham_ gives
an Instance at the Skirmish of _Calais_, _A. D._ 1349. when King
_Edward_, in great Anger and Grief, drew out his Sword, and most
passionately cry’d out, _Ha St._ Edward, _Ha St._ George; which his
Soldiers hearing, ran presently to him, and rushing violently upon the
Enemy, put many of them to the Sword. These Four Patrons we find
recorded together in the Preamble of the Foundation of _Windsor_
College by King _Edward_ III. tho’ in the Preamble to his Statutes of
the Order, and to King _Henry_ V’s Statutes, St. _Edward the Confessor_
is omitted; nevertheless he is enumerated with the rest in the Preamble
to King _Henry_ VIII’s.
§ 5. AS to the Honour and Reputation of this Noble Order, either in
Comparison with others, or in Reference to it self, it challenges the
Precedency of Antiquity, before the eldest Rank of Honour of that Kind
any where establish’d.
_Secondly_, The Statutes of the Foundation were so exquisitely and
judiciously devised and compacted, upon such solid Foundations of
Honour and Nobleness, that they afterwards became a Precedent to other
Orders; and gave the Plan to those Two of _The Golden Fleece_ and of
Monsieur St. _Michael_, as is manifest by comparing their Statutes.
_Thirdly_, It is no small Honour that accrues to this Order, that the
Number of these Knights-Companions were never encreas’d, but as they
were Twenty Six with the Sovereign, so they now thus continue, _ut
Pretium faciat raritas_; for the infringing this Article hath split
several other military Orders into Contempt and Ruin, as nothing more
tarnishing, or throwing a sully on the Worth of Glory and Honour, than
when render’d so vulgar, and indifferently disposed without Distinction
and Merit, as is exemplify’d in _The Order of the_ Star, and the now
declining _Order of St._ Michael.
_Fourthly_, It has receiv’d more additional Lustre by being honour’d
with the Companionship of divers Emperors, Kings and Sovereign Princes,
who esteem’d it the Summit of their Glory, and the highest Trophy of
additional Honour, to be enroll’d in the Number. Insomuch that some of
them with Impatience courted the Election. For we find recorded in the
Register, _A. D._ 1672. Eight Emperors of _Germany_, Three Kings of
_Spain_, Five _French_ Kings, Two Kings of _Scotland_, Five Kings of
_Denmark_, Five Kings of _Portugal_, Two Kings of _Sweden_, One King of
_Poland_, One King of _Arragon_, Two Kings of _Naples_, besides divers
Dukes and other free Princes; as One Duke of _Guelderland_, One Duke of
_Holland_, Two Dukes of _Burgundy_, Two Dukes of _Brunswick_, One Duke
of _Milan_, Two Dukes of _Urbin_, One Duke of _Ferrara_, One Duke of
_Savoy_, Two Dukes of _Holstein_, One Duke of _Saxony_, and One Duke of
_Wertemberg_, Seven Count Palatines of the _Rhine_, Four Princes of
_Orange_, and One Marquis of _Brandenburg_.
_Fifthly_, It entitles those Knights and Noblemen, whose Vertue hath
rais’d them to this Pitch of Greatness, to be Companions and Associates
with Emperors and Kings, a Prerogative of an high Nature, and a
sufficient Recompence for the greatest Merit. We shall close up all
with the high Elogy bestow’d on it by the learned _Selden_, _That it
exceeds in Majesty, Honour and Fame, all Chivalrous Orders of the
World_.
CAP. VI.
_The Statutes and Annals of the Order._
ORDER and Regularity is not only the Beauty and Symmetry of Government
and Societies, but also greatly contributes to their Establishment and
Perpetuity. Statutes and Rules are as well the Bounds to determine, as
Bonds to unite Fellowship and Societies together; and if either fall
into disuse, or be unadvisedly broken, they open a Field to Dissolution
and Ruin.
SUCH like Considerations mov’d and excited the victorious King _Edward_
III. (after he had determin’d the Erection of this most renown’d _Order
of the Garter_) to _devise and institute several laudable Statutes and
Ordinances, to be duly observ’d and kept within the said Order_; which
being collected into one Body, are call’d _The Statutes of Institution_.
THE Original of these was ordain’d to be kept within the Treasury of
the College of _Windsor_, but hath long since wholly perish’d; yet a
Transcript of them is recorded in the Reign of King _Henry_ V. in an
old Book call’d _Registrum Ordinis Chartaceum_. Two more ancient
_Exemplars_ of this Body of Statutes are also in being; the one in the
Library of the Lord _Hatton_, and the other in the _Black Book_ of the
Order; and comparing them together, I shall here give from the _Latin_
the Heads they consist of.
1. THE King of _England_, his Heirs and Successors, are to be
Sovereigns or Superiors of this Order.
2. NONE are to be admitted, unless he be a Gentleman of Blood, and that
he be a Knight and without Reproach.
3. THE Knights-Companions were to be Twenty Six, each to have at
_Windsor_ a Mantle and Garter for the better Splendor of the Order; to
wear the said Habit whensoever they go to the Chapel of St. _George_ or
Chapter-House, to hold a Chapter, or do any thing relating to their
Order. In like manner they are to wear the Habit upon the Vigils of St.
_George_, in their Procession from the King’s Lodgings to the Chapel or
Chapter-House, and returning back, and during Supper, continue so
habited till it be over, and likewise on the Morrow of St. _George_’s
Day, at Chapel, Dinner-time, Supper-time, and afterwards all the said
Day, until the Sovereign or his Deputy shall deposite the Ensigns of
the Order, and decree their Departure.
4. THERE were to be Thirteen Canons Secular, who at the Time of their
Institution, or within a Year, were to be Priests, and as many Vicars
already Priests, or to be made so at the next Ordination, answerable to
the number of the Knights-Companions; these religious Persons to be
presented by the several Founders each one, and upon the Death or
Vacancy of such presented, the Sovereign of the Order ever afterwards
to have the Nomination of them, who were bound to pray for the good
Estate of the Sovereign and his Kingdom, and particularly for this
Order.
5. THE Canons were to wear a Purple Mantle, with the Arms of St.
_George_ in a Roundle upon their right Shoulder.
6. THERE were to be Twenty Six poor veterane Knights, each to have a
competent Subsistence, their Election to be after the manner of the
Canons aforesaid.
7. THESE Knights were to have a Red Mantle, with the Arms of St.
_George_; but without any Circle of the Garter about it.
8. IF the Sovereign could not be present at the solemn Festival of St.
_George_, his Deputy was to supply his Place at the Charge of the
Sovereign; but such Deputy was not to make any new Ordinances, tho’ he
has License to correct or amend the old Ones.
9. EVERY Year, upon the Vigils of St. _George_, the Knights-Companions
within the Realm, or elsewhere, if conveniently, are to assemble, at
_Windsor_ Castle, and be present there at the Celebration of Divine
Service, in the Habit of the Order, where placed regularly in their
Stalls or Seats, directly over their Heads their Helmets and Swords,
_&c._ are to be hung up, and remain as long as such Knights live, in
Honour of them, and to signify the Defence of the Church, to which they
are obliged as a Military Order; but in case the Feast of St. _George_
happens to fall within the Quindene or Fifteen Days after the Feast of
_Easter_, then it was to be prorogued to the _Sunday_ next following,
accounting Fifteen Days from _Easter_ Day, that every Knight-Companion
might have reasonable time to come, nor be forced to ride upon any of
the Three _Easter_ Holy-days.
10. THAT they meet in St. _George_’s Chapel yearly, on the Eve of St.
_George_, at the Hour of Three in the Afternoon; and if they come not
at the Time assigned, without a just Excuse, which the Sovereign or his
Deputy allows, their Penalty is to be according to the Ordinance of the
Chapter; which is, That they shall not enter into the Chapter Door for
that time, but stay without, and shall have no Voice in any thing that
is done in the said Chapter; and if they come not before the Beginning
of Vespers, they shall not enter into their Stalls, but shall tarry
below before the said Stalls in the Choiristers Places during Vespers.
The like Penalty is ordain’d for not coming to the Mass or
Morning-Service betime, and at Vespers, on St. _George_’s Day; and
whosoever shall absent himself wholly from this Solemnity, without
sufficient Excuse and Leave from the Sovereign or Deputy, he is not to
enter within his Stall the next Feast after, but shall stay below, and
before his Stall, as it is said at Vespers, and in the Morrows
Procession must walk before the Three processional Crosses, [now the
Choiristers,] and at Mass [Service] shall sit below until the Offering,
and he to offer last. After which he is to come before the Sovereign,
or his Deputy’s Stall, and ask Pardon, which re-instates him in his
Stall. Absenting the next second Time upon the Feast, without Leave, he
has no Stall allowed him until he hath given and offered a Jewel upon
St. _George_’s Altar, to the Value of Twenty Marks, which is to be
double every Year until a Reconciliation.
11. WHERESOEVER they be, they must wear their Blue Robes from the
Beginning of the first Vespers, on the Eve of St. _George_’s Day, to
the second Vespers on the Morrow inclusive, _&c._
12. IF any Knight-Companion appears publickly without his dignifying
Garter, upon challenging the same, is to pay half a Mark to the Custos
and College.
13. AT the Times of Offering, each associated with the other who holds
the opposite Stall, are to march in Procession together to make their
Offerings; but alone, when his Consort is absent, and so that in all
Processions the Sovereign goes last.
14. IN the Morrow after the Solemnity of St. _George_’s Feast is over,
before their separating, a Mass _de Requie_ or Office _de Defunctis_
was to be used, at which the Knights-Companions were all entirely to be
present, without necessary Impediment shown to the Sovereign or Deputy
for Liberty to depart.
15. THEY were to leave their Robes at _Windsor_ always, to be ready for
them there upon any sudden Occasions that might evene.