Cause obstructs, they must take it in their Way, and assuming the Habit
of the Order the Canons wore, devoutly to meet and conduct them into
the Chapel; where, if it happens to be time of Divine Service, they are
to hear the same; if not, they are to be detained no longer than while
the Canons shall say the Psalm _de profundis_ for the Defunct, and
during their own Offering: But if any had riden thro’ the Town, without
visiting the Chapel and offering there, for every Neglect he must go
one Mile on Foot from the said Chapel, to shew his Obedience, and offer
an Half-Penny in Honour of St. _George_.
17. UPON first Notice of the Death of any of the Order, the Sovereign
shall ordain a Thousand Masses, every Foreign Prince shall cause Eight
Hundred, a Prince of Wales Seven Hundred, a Duke Six Hundred, an Earl
Three Hundred, every Baron Two Hundred, and every Knight Batchellor One
Hundred Masses to be celebrated for the Good of the Soul departed;
which neglected for a Quarter of a Year after notice of such Death, the
Masses are to be doubled; upon half a Year’s Neglect, again doubled;
and so from Time to Time in like Form till the End of the Year, and
then the Year’s to be doubled.
18. UPON sure Notice of the Death of a Knight-Companion, the Sovereign,
or his Deputy, is to converse by Letters, the Remainder [not Strangers]
that are within the Kingdom, to meet him within Six Weeks in some
convenient Place, and elect another; which assembled, at least Six,
with the Sovereign or Deputy, every of them present is to name Nine of
the worthiest and sufficientest Knights without Reproof that he knows,
whether native Subjects or Foreigners, sobeit they hold no contrary
Party, or be against the Sovereign, _viz._ Three Earls, or of sublimer
Title; Three Barons, and Three Knights Batchellors, which Names the
Bishop of _Windsor_, for the Time being, was to write, or, in his
Absence, the Dean or Register, and, in their Absence, the oldest
Residencer in the College, and after shew them to the Sovereign, who is
to chuse out of them him that has the most Voices, and whom he esteems
the most beneficial to the Crown and Kingdom. Every Knight failing to
appear at an Election, without an approved Cause, was to pay to the
Custos and College the Penalty of a Mark, and at his next coming to the
Chapter shall kneel upon the Ground, in the midst of the Chapter,
before the Sovereign or Deputy, until Reconciliation.
19. SOON after Election, the Knight-Companion elect is to have a
Garter, in token of his Election, and that he is a Fellow of the Order;
and as soon as decreed to take Possession of his Stall, but not before,
is to have a Mantle, which, if he dies before he receiv’d, he was not
to be accounted as one of the Order, because he wanted Possession;
nevertheless he was to have one half of the Masses abovesaid, because
he had the Garter deliver’d to him and nothing beside. If he was not
installed within a Year after his receiving the Garter, and especially
if within the Realm, and without reasonable Excuse to be allowed of by
the Sovereign or Deputy, his Election became void, and they might
proceed to a new one: Moreover, neither the Sword nor Helmet was to be
put upon his Stall within the Castle, before his coming; to the End,
that if the Knight elect came not, his Atchievements might not be
unhandsomly taken down and abused, but honourably removed into the
Choir for the publick Use and Profit of the said College.
20. EVERY Foreigner elected was to have Certification of such his
Election from the Sovereign, at the Sovereign’s Charge, who was to send
him the Garter and the Mantle, and a Copy of the Statutes of the Order,
under the Common Seal of the said Order, within Four Months after the
Election, the better for him to advise on; which being accepted, of
whatsoever Condition he be, he was obliged within Eight Months after to
send a sufficient Proxy, according to his State and Dignity, a Knight
irreprehensible to be installed in his Room, and who was to bring with
him a Silk Mantle of the Blue Colour of the Order, also a Sword and
Helmet to remain at _Windsor_, which Mantle was be put upon the right
Shoulder of the Proxy, by the Sovereign or Deputy at the time of
Installment, when he is introduced to take the Stall in the Name of his
Lord and Master; neither was he to deposite the same till the End of
Divine Service; after which he was not to wear it, nor be admitted in
the Chapter-House, or have any Suffrage, by virtue of any Powers vested
in him; but this Favour Foreigners elected by Proxy were to have, that
could not personally come themselves, they were to be Partakers of the
whole Masses and Orisons of the Order; whereas, if they died before the
Installation, they were to have but a Moity of them.
21. UPON the Death of any Earl, [or of Superior Dignity] Baron, or
Knight Batchellor, his Successor, whether Earl, [or of Superior
Dignity] Baron, or Knight, was to have a vacant Stall of his
Predecessor, without any changing of Places, except the Prince of
_Wales_ alone, who was to have always the next Stall, and opposite to
the Sovereign; so that it may happen for a Knight to have an Earl’s
Place, or an Earl a Knight’s Place; and this because the first Founders
might be known.
22. EVERY Knight-Companion at his first Entrance, was to give a certain
Alms, according to their Eminence and Degree, for the perpetual
Maintenance of the Canons and Poor Knights, _viz._ the Sovereign Forty
Marks, a Foreign King Twenty Pounds, a Prince of _Wales_ Twenty Marks,
a Duke Ten Pounds, an Earl Ten Marks, a Baron a Hundred Shillings, and
a Knight Batchellor Five Marks, that by these pious Donations they
might justly entitle themselves to the Name and Privileges of the
Order; wherefore, before these Payments were rightly performed, their
Sword and Helmet [Atchievements] were not to be hung up, and for
Foreigners the Sovereign was obliged to pay himself.
23. UPON the Death of any of the Founders his Arms, in a Plate of
Metal, was to be fixed upon the Back of his Stall, and their Successors
were to have the like, but to be placed underneath their Predecessors,
and not to be so great as those of the first Founders.
24. AT Admission every Knight-Companion must promise and swear
personally, or by Proxy, faithfully to observe the Statutes of the
Order, and none are to be installed by Proxy but Foreigners only, which
cannot conveniently come in Person.
25. IF the Sovereign be out of _England_ at the Installation of any
Knight-Companion, or could not attend himself to do what appertains to
him in that Point, he might impower and authorize any of the Fellows to
officiate for him.
26. THAT there be a Common Seal or Signet Keeper, whom the Sovereign
was to assign.
27. EVERY Knight-Companion was to have a Copy of the Statutes under the
Seal of the Order, the Original sealed likewise with the said Seal, to
remain for evermore within the Treasury of the College, and upon the
Death of any Knight-Companion, his Executors were to send back such
Copy to be deliver’d to the Custos or Warden.
28. NO Knight-Companion was to go out of the Realm and Dominion of
_England_, without the Knowledge and Licence of the Sovereign, who of
Grace and Favour is bound to grant it upon a Military Expedition, or
other notable Act appertaining to the Honour of Knighthood, in
Preference and Advancement of this Order of St. _George_.
29. THEY were not to arm themselves against each other, but in the Wars
of their Sovereign Lord, in his right and just Quarrel; and if it
happen’d that any of the Order should be retain’d in the Cause and
Quarrel of any Lord, and the adverse Party desir’d another
Knight-Companion on his Side, that latter Knight is by no means to
agree but to excuse himself in all Things, because his Fellow was armed
on the other Side, and was retain’d before him. And every Knight was
bound to except and agree, at his being retain’d, that he may have his
Discharge from the Wars, upon any of the Order’s being engaged in Arms
before him for the contrary Party; and if the second retained knows not
of it, upon notice that any of his Fellows were retained before him,
and armed on the contrary Side, the second retained Knight was to
excuse himself to his Master, and relinquish the Quarrel.
30. ALL Licences given to the Knight-Companions to travel in quest of
Honour by Military Exploits; also all Certificates, mandatous Letters,
Certificates, and other Writings whatsoever relating to the Order, were
to be issued out by the Sovereign, under the Seal of the Order, to
remain in the keeping of one of the Order, during the Sovereign’s
Pleasure. And if the Keeper of the Seal absent himself upon reasonable
Cause, he was to leave the Seal with another of the Fellowship that the
Sovereign should appoint, to the Intent that the Seal at no time be out
of the Presence of the Sovereign, he being within his Dominion. And in
like manner concerning the Seal in the Absence of the Sovereign or the
Deputy.
31. IF any Knight-Companion for Devotion sake should desire to dwell at
_Windsor_, he was to maintain himself at his own, and not at the
College Charge.
32. ANY other Knight, not of the Order, upon the Account of Devotion,
that would reside there, was to be provided for at the Appointment of
the Sovereign, and the Fellowship also. Any Knight or other Person
giving 10 _l._ yearly Rents or Lands, or more, to the College, to
participate of their Prayers and Suffrages, he was to be registred in
the Calendar of Benefactors, and continually be pray’d for by the
Canons and Poor Knights.
33. UPON the Death of any Canon, the Custos or Warden is to certify the
same by Letters to the Sovereign, if beyond Sea, to know whom he
pleases to present to the Canonship.
34. THERE was to be a Register appointed by the Sovereign and
Fellowship, the most intelligent Person of the College, who was to be
present at the Chapters, to record their Elections and the Electors,
their Punishments, and Causes of them, with their Reconciliations, all
Acts whatsoever administred in their Council, from Chapter to Chapter
yearly; for the faithful Execution of which Office he was to be sworn
at his Admission therein; and whatsoever had been register’d was in the
Beginning of the following Chapter, on the Vigils of St. _George_, to
be publickly recited before the Sovereign and the whole Fellowship,
that what was amiss and incorrect might be mended and reduced to due
Form.
§ 2. BESIDES these Statutes there are Two other Bodies, or Exemplars
establish’d since, the one by King _Henry_ V. the other by King _Hen._
VIII. King _Henry_ V. finding the Glory of the Order declining, removed
the Grand Festival and other Solemnities, and commanded a strict
Observation of all the Founder’s Statutes, and brought many more to
like Perfection, which he subjoined to such of them, where they might
be properly and are as follow:
{ 3. THAT the Knights should mark their
{ Obeisance in the Choir first to the Altar,
{ and next to the Sovereign, or in his Absence
{ to his Stall.
{
{ 8. THAT the Deputy should elect, if
{ the Sovereign (when abroad) had not Six
{ Knights with him.
{
{ 9. THAT the Feast of St. _George_ should
{ not be kept upon St. _Mark_’s Day, nor the
{ Days of St. _Philip_ and _Jacob_, nor of the
{ Holy Cross, neither upon any Days which
{ should happen in the Festivals of the
{ Ascension or Pentecost, or other solemn
{ Feasts ordained by the Church to the interrupting
{ their Divine Service.
{
{ 12. That when a Knight should ride
{ out he might wear a Blue Silk Ribbon instead
To Article { of his Garter.
{
{ 14. That the Order and Manner of
{ Offering up the Atchievements should be
{ as is there prescribed, _viz._ before they
{ offer their Money, their Swords should be
{ first offered by Two Companions, which
{ the Sovereign or his Deputy should appoint,
{ and afterwards their Helmets with
{ their Crests, by Two others of the
{ Order.
{
{ 20. That Knights absent in the Sovereign’s
{ Service might be install’d by Deputy.
{
{ 31. That the Sovereign should take a
{ Signet of the Order abroad with him, to
{ be fixed to all the Acts he does in Foreign
{ Parts relating to this Order, in Distinction
{ to those done at home.
{
{ 34. That no Charge should be admitted
{ upon the College by the Custos or Canons,
{ without the Sovereign’s Consent likewise.
THE Statutes with these Additions (as the Statutes of Institution) this
King caused to be translated into _French_, and transcribed into a
Roll, which was ordered to be presented to every Knight-Companion under
the common Seal of the Order. In after Times it was transcribed into
Books; and by a Decree, _Anno_ 3 _Hen._ VII. an Original Book of these
Statutes and Institutions, fair written, was to be reposed in the
College of St. _George_, and the Scribe or Register to have Transcripts
of them in Readiness, to present the elected Knights withal.
THE last and largest Body was first began, and received the finishing
Stroke by King _Hen._ VIII. chiefly in regard some of the former
Statutes wanted Explication and others Contraction. And for the
compleating of which Purpose, on St. _George_’s Day, _Anno_ 9 _Regni
sui_ he summoned all the Knights-Companions to convene next Year at the
Time of the Solemnity, about the Abrogation of what tended to darken
the Honour of this Order (if any such were), and for the Advancement of
what might promote the Grandeur and Lustre of it. But these Resolves
came to no Perfection till _May_ 28. _Anno_ 11 _Regni sui_, when he
entred upon this Reformation with all magnificent Ceremony imaginable,
for being accompanied with Nineteen Knights-Companions of the Order
proceeding in Cavalcade to the Chapter-House, and taking into
Consideration their former Statutes of Knights-Companions, with all due
Reverence implor’d the Sovereign to reform and explain them as he
should think convenient, which he brought to a successful Period, by
the Advice and Consent of the Society assembled: That done, all present
entreated the Sovereign, kneeling, that where any of them had been
peccant against the Order, he would please to remit, and issue out a
general Pardon, which he granted and ratify’d in Chapter next Day. This
was a Task of Three Years compleat before it rose to Perfection, _viz.
April_ 23. _Anno_ 14 _Hen._ VIII. for then the Sovereign, out of right
singular Love, well-temper’d Zeal, and entire Affection to this most
noble Order, to the Estate of Chivalry, and the Continuance and
Encrease thereof; as also at the humble Request and instant Importunity
of the then Knights-Companions, and by their Advice, Counsel and
Consent, did interpret and elucidate all the Obscurities, Doubts and
Ambiguities of the former Statutes and Ordinances. Divers Affairs
contain’d in Fifty of them being explain’d and amended; he made
likewise necessary Additions, the Original whereof being sign’d and
seal’d, were commanded to be carefully laid up in the Treasury of
_Windsor_ College, to remain as a Standard to succeeding Times; yet
they have not been seen there these many Years past.
THE Articles and Clauses added to the former Statutes, in this last
Body, are these:
{ 1. That the Interpretation of the
{ Statutes, _&c._ belongeth to the Sovereign.
{
{ 2. The Three Points of Reproach declar’d,
{ and what is meant by a Gentleman
{ of Blood.
{
{ 4. Of the Prerogative of the Feast.
{
{ 5. How the Feast is to be observed by
{ absent Knights.
{
{ 6. Attendance on the Sovereign, if
{ he be not at the Feast.
{
{ 7. That the Sovereign’s Deputy may
{ correct Things in Chapter.
{
{ 12. The offering up of Atchievements,
{ and a Taper arm’d with an Escutcheon.
{
{ 13. Canons to sit in the lower Stalls,
{ when any Knights are present.
{
{ 14. That Six Knights make a Chapter.
{
To Article { 20. The Manner of Installation set
{ down.
{
{ 21. Clause for a Foreign Knight’s
{ Deputy to be conducted from the Chapter-House
{ to the Stall; and for making
{ an Election void, if the Knight send not
{ his Proxy within Seven Months.
{
{ 23. For advancing and translating of
{ Stalls.
{
{ 25. Plates not to be larger than the
{ first Founders, except Strangers.
{
{ 27. The Time Three Months prefix’d
{ for the Executor of a deceas’d Knight-Companion
{ to send back the Copy of the
{ Orders deliver’d to him at his Admission,
{ which might be also sent to one of the
{ principal Officers of the Order.
{
{ 38. Concerning the Collar of the
{ Order.
THIS Body of Statutes was compil’d in _Latin_, and is recorded in the
_Black Book_ of the Order. It was translated into _French_ and
_English_ by Sir _Thomas Wriothesley_, Kt. then Garter King of Arms.
The _English_ Version annex’d here to this Treatise, is what hath since
been deliver’d (instead of the former Statutes) to all succeeding
Knights-Companions, according to the Injunction; but of late Times
appointed to be sent to Foreign Princes and other elect Knights abroad,
sealed with the Great Seal of the Order, affix’d to a Label of Blue
Silk and Gold.
§ 3. THERE have been several Endeavours since the Reign of King _Henry_
VIII. for reforming the Statutes. As first, King _Edward_ VI. who as
Sovereign, by the Orders themselves, had an undoubted Prerogative set
him to alter and reform many Things which seem’d inconsistent with the
Religion he establish’d. To which Purpose, at a Chapter at _Greenwich_,
held _April_ 23. in the Third Year of his Reign, the Lord _St. John_,
the Earl of _Arundel_, and Sir _William Paget_, were to peruse and make
them agreeable to the King’s other Proceedings, by the Assistance and
Advice of the Protector, the Duke of _Somerset_, and other Companions.
This was follow’d by a subsequent Order pass’d in the Chapter at
_Greenwich_ the Year after, that the Statutes should be reform’d and
corrected as they thought expedient: And for the better Accomplishment
of their Design, at the next Feast, _April_ 24. 5 _Edw._ VI. another
Order commenc’d, impowering the Duke of _Somerset_, the Marquess of
_Northampton_, the Earls of _Warwick_, _Arundel_, _Bedford_ and
_Wilts_, to peruse and amend the Statutes and other Books of the Order,
which were brought to some tolerable Degree of Perfection; for
thereupon a new Body was collected (in general very much altering the
Laws of the Order) and publish’d _March_ 17. _Anno_ 7 _Edw._ VI. But
this King within Four Months after expiring, Queen _Mary_, his Sister
and Successor, the very first Thing she transacted was to abrogate and
make them void; wherefore we need not mention them, as never in use and
unrevived. For the Execution of which Purpose, she conven’d a Chapter
at St. _James_’s, the 27th of _September_ following; and it was then
decreed, that the said Laws and Ordinances, as inconvenient,
impertinent, and tending to Novelty, should be disannulled, and no
Account to be made of them for the future; and for the quicker
Execution, Sir _William Petre_ (that Day admitted Chancellor) had
Orders to see them speedily expung’d out of the Book of Statutes, and
forthwith defac’d, lest any Memory of them should remain to Posterity;
and only those of her Father, _Hen._ VIII. and his Royal Predecessors,
should be retain’d.
IN this Affair King _Philip_, her Husband, appear’d no less zealous;
for on the 5th of _August_, 1 and 2 _Philip_ and _Mary_, (which was the
3d Day after he had been invested with the Habit) himself being present
at a Chapter at _Windsor_, it was ordain’d, That all Acts and Decrees
in the Great Book, [_i. e._ the _Black Book_ aforesaid] which were
repugnant and disagreeable, either with the ancient and receiv’d
Statutes of the Order, or else with the Laws of the Realm, should
clearly be abolish’d and erased, by the Marquis of _Winchester_, the
Earls of _Arundel_, _Pembroke_, and the Lord _Paget_.
NO sooner was Queen _Elizabeth_ fix’d on the Throne, but soon after,
_viz._ on St. _George_’s Day, in the second Year of her Reign, a View
of the Statutes was committed, by Commission, to Four of the
Knights-Companions, _viz_. the Marquis of _Northampton_, the Earls of
_Arundel_ and _Pembroke_, and the Lord _Howard_ of _Effingham_, who
were thereby impower’d to peruse and consider those Statutes with the
utmost Care and regard, if any of them were repugnant to the Religion,
Laws and Statutes of the Realm; and if any such were recorded, to
represent them faithfully to the Sovereign, that she, in Conjunction
with the Knights-Companions, might establish such Decrees concerning
them as she should think fit; but that any thing was done in pursuance
hereunto, doth not appear; for the Transcripts of her Father’s Body of
the Statutes, throughout the Time of her Reign, were presented to the
Knights-Companions at their Installations; and the Practice of her Time
was pursuant to the Direction therein, except in some few Things now
and then added or alter’d at future Chapters, when there arose fresh
Matters for such Expedients.
KING _James_ I. her Successor, revolv’d something towards a new
Regulation; and in order to put it in Execution, the 14th of _May_, in
the 9th Year of his Reign, decreed, That Commissionary Letters should
be granted to the Earls of _Nottingham_, _Worcester_, _Pembroke_ and
_Northampton_, to empower them to examine the Registers and other
Monuments which pertained to that Order; and where any Passage should
be found obsolete or obscure, to make it conspicuous and clear; where
Contrariety appear’d, fitly to reconcile it; yet with no Design of
innovating any Thing, but an Intention of renewing all, as near as
might be, to the first Standard and most ancient Institution of the
Order; saving always Power to himself, as Sovereign of the Order, to
add or diminish any Matter (according to the Occasion) as it should
seem agreeable to his Prudence for the Honour of this Most Noble Order.
What Progress they made in this Commission, the Memoirs of that Time
are silent in; but some few Years after, this Affair was reviv’d, and
another was issu’d forth, to the Earls of _Nottingham_, _Worcester_,
_Southampton_, _Arundel_ and _Montgomery_, and the Viscount _Lisle_,
all Knights-Companions, dated _April_ 26. in the 16th Year of his
Reign; which Six, or any Four of them, were thereby constituted to take
an exact Survey of all the ancient Statutes and Articles of the said
Order; and authoriz’d to call before them all such Persons, whether
Officers of the said Order, or others, as could give any Light or
Information concerning that Affair; and after a serious Deliberation,
to pen down what in them they conceiv’d meet to be explain’d, and what
to be added, whereby to render the Order more illustrious, that the
same being presented to the Sovereign and the Society, at a Chapter
holden, might be resolv’d on in part, or in all, to be put in
Execution, if it seem’d so good to that King.
THIS Affair mov’d very slowly; but towards the latter End of his Reign,
the Earls of _Worcester_, _Montgomery_, _Arundel_, _Surry_ and
_Leicester_, Five of the Six Commissioners above-nam’d, having held
divers Conferences, and debated several Matters represented to them,
and at a Chapter convened at _Whitehall_ the 19th of _May_, _Anno_ 20
_Jac._ I. did present to the Sovereign certain Articles, subscribed
with their Hands, which, for the Honour of the Order, they thought
requisite to be duly observ’d.
BY the first of which they made Provision for a further Progression
and Advancement of the illustrious Institution, in proposing, that
every Year a Commission from the Sovereign should be granted, or
continu’d to such Knights of the Order as the Chapter should pitch
on, to deliberate and weigh all Affairs that fell under the Order,
and that the Year after, an Estimate, by the Knights in Chapter,
should be exhibited, of their Resolutions and Proceedings by Virtue
of the said Commission. This, with Eight other Articles, were
confirm’d by the Sovereign and Twelve of the Knights-Companions, the
22d of _May_ following, in a Chapter held at _Whitehall_; and so
prosperously their Endeavours succeeded, that on the Feast-day of St.
_George_, at _Windsor_ in the ensuing Year, the Earl of _Worcester_,
(being then the Sovereign-Deputy) with Ten Knights-Companions more,
gave their assent to Eight other Articles (most of them concerning
the Alms-Knights) which the Morning after had the Approbation of the
Sovereign; and before the Celebration of Divine Service, by his
Deputy and Companions assembled in the Chapter-House, the Observation
thereof was duly decreed.