absolute Reformation of any of his Predecessors; and at the Solemnity
of St. _George_, held at _Windsor_ the 6th of _October_, in the 6th
Year of his Reign, He commission’d Nine Knights-Companions, _viz._ the
Earls of _Mulgrave_, _Pembroke_, _Montgomery_, _Arundel_, _Surry_,
_Salisbury_, _Carlisle_, _Dorset_, _Holland_, _Berkshire_ and
_Suffolk_, with command to assemble Four Times in a Year, to take into
their Consideration the Affairs of the Order; all which, but the Earls
of _Mulgrave_ and _Dorset_, met at _Whitehall_ the 2d of _January_
following, where some few Matters fell under their Consultation. This
Commission was seconded by one of a larger extent about Three Months
after, and directed to the said Knights-Companions, or to any Eight,
Seven, Six, Five or Four of them, empowering them to meet and devise,
and exactly preponderate all the Statutes and Ordinances of the Order,
as well such as were established at the Foundation, as those that had
been since made, by Explanation or Addition, and to weigh advisedly
whether any Thing had been enacted, that had caused Doubt or Ambiguity,
or stood in need of any Change or Amendment; and if upon mature
Deliberation by them thus conven’d, there should appear any Contrariety
or Defect, for want of plain Expression, or other Omission, fit to be
supplied, tending to the Honour of the Order, That then the Sovereign
might, upon Return of their Proceedings, resolve upon some general
Declaration in Chapter, to reform and reduce into one Body all the
Statutes and Ordinances thereof, that the same being compil’d and
settled in one perfect Model, might be so consign’d to Posterity, free
from all future Questions and Doubts.
NEVERTHELESS not any thing was done upon this Commission, tho’ it stood
in force even from the 6th to the 13th Year of this King’s Reign; but
where the Neglect lay History does not fully inform us, tho’ it may be
conjectur’d by what follows.
AT the Feast of St. _George_, celebrated by Prorogation at
_White-hall_, for the Year 1636. upon the 17th, 18th, and 19th Days
of _April_, 1637. divers Petitions for Reformation, and reducing of
Matters to their pristine Constitution, were presented to the
Sovereign by the Chancellor, and read; some of which, more
especially, tending to set off and encrease the Honour of the Order,
were received and decreed by the Sovereign, and the rest referr’d to
the said Knights-Commissioners. The first of those Decrees which at
that time had its Sanction, was to revive and renew the Powers given
in the former Commission; and thereupon a new one, dated the 7th of
_May_ following, was issued under the Great Seal of the Order, and
directed to the Earls of _Mulgrave_, _Darby_, _Pembroke_, and
_Montgomery_, _Arundel_, and _Surry_, _Kelly_, _Salisbury_, _Dorset_,
_Holland_, _Barkshire_, _Suffolk_, _Lyndsey_, _Exeter_, Marquiss
_Hamilton_, Duke of _Lenox_, the Earls of _Darby_, _Moreton_, and
_Northumberland_, or to Three or more of them, to meet and consult of
any Matters contain’d in the Statutes, or for Honour of the Order.
These Knights-Commissioners were endow’d with all the plenary Powers
given in the foresaid Commission, dated 6 _Car._ I. unto which was
granted a further Addition, for the better effecting the Sovereign’s
Care: That Three or more of them should meet at the Sovereign’s
Court, and begin to put the said Commission in execution in _Whitson_
Week next ensuing, attended and assisted by the Chancellor of the
Order, and all, or any other Officers, or such of them as they should
fix on, or find serviceable. And being assembled, to have free
Liberty to hear, propound, and debate of whatsoever shall fall under
their Cognisance, or that they should conceive conducible to the
Honour and perfect Establishment of so Illustrious and Noble a Body.
And to prepare all Matters of such their Resolutions and Debates to
be laid before the Sovereign at the next Feast of St. _George_, and
so successively at every Chapter so appointed by him, to receive his
full Determination, Approbation, and Royal Assent, with further Power
to adjourn from time to time, after the first Opening and Reading of
the said Commission; their Meetings to be in such Places, and on such
Days as should seem most convenient to them.
NOW who wou’d suppose, that after so Noble an Intention of the
Sovereign, and his earnest Solicitude to issue forth a second
Commission, his hearty recommending and exciting their Deligence for a
speedy Dispatch, and lastly, his expecting an Account of their
Transactions the next Feast, these honourable Persons, Companions of
the Order, should need a Spur to accomplish so laudable a Design; but
it was so.
FOR altho’ the Commission was opened at _White-hall_ the 30th of May
following, in the Presence of the Earls of _Pembroke_ and _Montgomery_,
_Salisbury_, _Holland_, Marquiss of _Hamilton_, and Duke of _Lenox_,
Commissioners; yet Sir _Thomas Row_ Chancellor, in his Letter to Dr.
_Christopher Wren_, dated the 4th of _June_, 1637. sadly complained,
That it was much as he could do to draw together Five of the
Knights-Companions, to open and read the Commission, and this _quasi in
transitu_, was in Confusion and Hurry, and all that was transacted was
to appoint another Convention at Court in _Midsummer_ Week then next
ensuing, and charge the Chancellor to prepare Matter (for Propositions
and Observations upon the Statutes) fit for their Consultations against
that Appointment, according to the Tenor of the Commission. And in
another Place writes, That he found such Difficulty to procure
Meetings, and as certain _non Chalance_ in every one, as if it were but
a ceremonious Affair, and so few hearty in it, that he feared he and
the Officers should wait to little Purpose: And so indeed it fell out;
for albeit he attended in _Midsummer_ Week, according to their
Direction, yet there was nothing dispatch’d, save only the adjourning
of their Meeting to _London_.
SOME little Progress was afterwards made in this Affair at _White-hall_
the 8th of _February_ following, where Three of them were present,
_viz._ the Earls of _Berkshire_, _Lindsey_, and _Northumberland_, who
order’d the Chancellor, Register, and Garter, to prepare an
Abbreviation of the Statutes, and reduce every thing of one Head into
an Act, to keep up to Method, and avoid Confusion.
THE 1st of _February_ after, another Assembly of Seven of the
Knights-Commissioners was held at _White-hall_, in whose Presence a few
Points were debated; but little or nothing concluded.
§ 4. AS concerning the Annals of the Order, or the Books wherein the
several Resolutions and Decrees occasionally made in Chapters, and
wherein other historical and ceremonial Matters relating to it are
recorded, it will not be amiss to give some Account of them in this
Place.
THE first, in Order of time, is an old Paper Book written in _French_,
call’d _Registrum Chartaceum_, hitherto fortunately preserv’d in the
Paper Office at _White-hall_, which probably was begun by _John
Coningham_; for we find him, 1414. (a little before the Annals
commenced) made Canon of _Windsor_, and Register of the Order, and in
regard the same Hand-Writing is carry’d on from the Beginning of the
Book down to 16 _Hen._ VI. inclusive, where follows an _Hiatus_ till
_Anno_ 23 _Hen._ VI. that the Annals began to be set down with another
Hand; and that he shortly after died in 1445. Henceforward these Annals
are entred with promiscuous Hands, which may be presumed the proper
Hand-Writings of the Registers of this Noble Order, as they succeeded
each other in the Office.
AFTER we find _Richard Sidnor_ mention’d in the Register _Anno_ 16
_Hen._ VIII. (who subscribed his Name at the foot of every Leaf) the
Annals were pen’d in one Hand until _Anno_ 26 _Hen._ VIII. that _Robert
Aldrydge_, D. D. and one of the Canons of _Windsor_ succeeded him; and
then ’tis evident the Writing also was changed to an old set _Roman_
Hand, which ran on to the End of 29 _Hen._ VIII. in which Year he was
advanced to the Bishoprick of _Carlisle_; and this Book breaks off in
the 31st of his Reign.
BESIDES this there is another Book that goes by the Name of the _Black
Book_, wherein the Annals of the Order are transcribed in _Latin_,
concerning which there pass’d a Decree, _Anno_ 3 _Hen._ VII. that it
should be fairly copy’d out, and afterwards that the Sovereign should
be put in Remembrance of it; but neither of these Decrees was put in
execution, nor was this confirm’d till towards the End of the Reign of
King _Henry_ VIII. This Book differs very little from the _Registrum
Chartaceum_, for therein is nothing enrolled relating to the Order
(except one of the Exemplars of the Founders Statutes, and a Catalogue
of the first Twenty-five Knights-Companions) before the 4th Year of
King _Henry_ V. the Annals of the Order, until that time, being
entirely lost. It hath the same Hiatus or Intervals from 16 to 23
_Hen._ VI. from 7 to 10 of _Edw._ 4. from 4 to 7 _Hen._ VII. and from
10 to 14 _Hen._ 7. It also runs parallel therewith for the most part,
and that it was compil’d by Dr. _Aldrydge_, whilst he continu’d
Register, is collected from some Passages in the Preface of all the
Sovereigns, ending with King _Henry_ VIII. The Transcription of this
Book was finish’d _Anno_ 13 _Hen._ VIII. for so far is written, as also
the Appendix, with one and the same Hand; (in a middle-siz’d Text) but
_Anno_ 32 _Hen._ VIII. another Hand appears, which, with some
Variation, is continu’d to the End of 5 _Edw._ VI. where this Book
breaks off.
THE Register of the Order was oblig’d to provide Two Books, and therein
to enter the Ordinances, Statutes, and Acts of this Noble Corporation,
one to be lodg’d at the Chapter House at _Windsor_, and call’d, _Index
Windesoriensis_, and the other being a Duplicate of the former, to
remain in his own Custody, ready to expose to the View of the
Sovereign, whensoever he should demand it; this latter was called _Aulæ
Registrum_.
AS to the general Directions for Compiling these Books, and the
Particulars they are to consist of, we are inform’d from the said
Statutes and Constitutions; for besides the Entry of all the Scrutinies
taken in Chapter and Elections made thereupon, it is his Office to
record the Penalties inflicted on Knights-Companions, and the
Reconciliation of all Delinquents with other Acts, and their Causes
appertaining to the Order, all which are decreed to be recited before
the Sovereign and Knights-Companions at the Beginning of the Chapter
yearly, if Occasion be, to correct and reduce into Method. Moreover he
is to record all the Policies in War, Exploits, Transactions, and
memorable Atchievements, both of the Sovereign and Knights-Companions,
according as he can best attain the Knowledge of them, by his own
diligent Search, or the Assistance of Mr. Garter, which having
consign’d to Writing from Year to Year, is to be perused at the next
Chapter by the Knights-Companions, for their Approbation and
Correction; and being reiterated the second time in the Chapter, he is
to see that they be fairly engrossed in the said Book, for a perpetual
Remembrance.
AND because the time perfix’d for Rehearsal of these Particulars in
Chapter, had in succeeding Years been imploy’d in other Affairs. In one
of those Articles which the Knights-Companions exhibited to King _Jac._
I. the 19th of _May, Anno Jac._ R. 20. and ratified the 22d of _May_
following, it was decreed that nothing of this Nature, or any other Act
in Chapter, should be registred before it had been perus’d and pass’d
the Consideration of the then Knights-Companions, or at least Four of
them, who when they should set Times apart to consult of the Affairs of
this Order (for which they were chiefly commission’d) might then also
make Use of such Opportunities as should give this Business Dispatch
with more Conveniency. Upon mature Consideration had of those
Injunctions, the then Register at a Chapter held 19 _Nov._ 22 _Car._
II. presented the Continuation of the Annals of this Order, which he
had ranged in order to register in the _Liber Carolinus_, and submitted
them to the Approbation of the Knights-Companions, whom the Sovereign
had commission’d to inspect the Affairs of the Order; which Tender,
when they declin’d, he propos’d that it might pass the Examination of
the Prelate; but they not giving their Assent to it, in regard the
Register himself was under the Obligation of an Oath, to deal with the
utmost Fidelity in his Reports, it was decreed, That the said Annals
should be fairly recorded in the Book, without any further Inspection.
BESIDES the abovemention’d Particulars, there were Materials of another
Nature, decreed to be collected by the Chancellor of the Order and
Garter King of Arms, to be digested first, and after entred by the
Register; for whereas one part of the Chancellor’s Duty was to make a
Narration every Year in Chapter, at the Feast of St. _George_, of the
illustrious Exploits of the Knights-Companions, as well as the Actions
that tend to eclipse their Glory; so the Register was to note these,
and record them from a perpetual Æra or Memorial of their Honour or
Disgrace.
AND it is part of Garter’s Duty diligently to enquire after the
Valiant, Fortunate, and Renown’d Acts, both of the Sovereign and the
rest of the Knights-Companions, and relate them with all Exactness to
the Register, for his Engrossing: But how sparingly these are put in
execution, the Annals themselves bear witness. However, Sir _Edward
Walker_ Garter-King has drawn up an Account of the shining Actions and
Characters of the Knights-Companions, beginning with _Thomas_ Earl of
_Strafford_, and continuing it down to his Son, which he deliver’d Dr.
_Ryves_ the Register, for the Use afore-directed.
AMONG the Articles establish’d at the Feast of St. _George_, 21 _Jac._
I. the last is, That the then Register should compose a Book, wherein
should be orderly transcribed the Form and Manner of all the
Solemnities, Ceremonies, and Processions, at the Celebration of the
Order; as also of taking down and offering the defunct Knight’s
Atchievements, that the Knights-Companions might have free Recourse to
it; but such Book never was extant.
For the Safety and Preservation of the _Annals_, the
Knights-Commissioners determined the 22nd of _May, An. Jac._ I. 20.
That a secure and convenient Place within the Castle of _Windsor_
should be appointed, in which all Acts concerning the Order should be
reposed, and to which every Knight-Companion at all times might have
access. And upon the Remove or Decease of the Register of the Order,
the Book, containing the Account of all such Transactions, should be
committed to one of the Knights of the Order.
The second of these Books is called the _Blue Book_, so call’d, being
bound in Blue Velvet; it begins with the first Year of Queen _Mary_,
and ends at the 18th of King _Jac._ I.
The third being bound in Red Velvet, is denominated the _Red Book_; it
commences where the _Blue Book_ leaves off, and treats of the like Acts
and Entries, and is carry’d down to 14 _Car._ I: having first given a
full Account of the Installation of the Prince, afterwards King
_Charles_ II. And as to great part of this Work, it was perform’d by
the elegant and judicious Dr. _Matthew Wren_, Bishop of _Ely_, and
Register of the Order, whose excellent Pattern his Brother and
Successor Dr. _Christopher Wren_ hath copy’d in its following Tract.
This Bishop compiled a MS. _A. D._ 1631. wherein, by way of Comment
upon King _Henry_ VIII’s Statutes, he hath compendiously shewn what
Alteration there hath passed in the Law of the Garter, a Work performed
with great Judgment, and exceedingly useful to the Curious.
The fourth and last Book is, _Liber Carolinus_, and commences 1640.
wherein the _Annals_ are brought down to the beginning of 1670. by
_Ryves_, then Register. And in a Chapter conven’d at _Windsor_ the 16th
of _April, Anno_ 13 _Car._ II. it was decreed, That there should be Two
of these Books compiled, the one printed in _Latin_, in the Custos of
the Register at _Windsor_; and the other in _English_, to be reserv’d
at _Whitehall_, and call’d, _Registrum Aulicum_.
CAP. VII.
_The_ Habit _and_ Ensigns _of the Order_.
THE Habit and Ensigns of this most Noble Order are most eminently
distinguishable and magnificent, and consist of these Particulars,
_viz._ Garter, Mantle, Surcoat, Hood, George, and Collar; for as the
_Romans_ were very exact and particular in assigning each Degree a
peculiar Habit and Vesture, by which the Quality and Rank of their
Citizens might be discernable, the Distinction of Apparel was
afterwards taken up by divers other Nations, whence every Military, as
well as Ecclesiastick Order of Knighthood, did appropriate to it self a
peculiar Dress, Ensign, or Badge, as a Mark of Distinction one from
another, to set off the Lustre and Honour of their several Societies.
The four first, _viz._ the Garter, Mantle, Surcoat, and Hood, were
assigned the Knights Companions, by the Founder, and the George and
Collar by King _Henry_ VIII. and all these together are called the
whole Habit or Ensigns of the Order, which we shall treat of
succinctly, beginning with the Garter.
The Royal Garter challengeth the Preheminence, for from it this famous
Order receiv’d its Denomination: It is the first part of the Habit
presented to Foreign Princes and Absent Knights, and that wherewith
they, and all other elect Knights, are first adorn’d; and of so great
Honour and Grandeur, that by the bare Investiture with this Noble
Ensign, the Knights are esteem’d Companions of the greatest Military
Order in the World.
The Materials whereof it was compos’d at first, is an _Arcanum_; nor is
it described by any before _Polydore Virgil_, and he but in general: As
to the ornamental Part of it, it was adorn’d with Gold and precious
Stones, and had a Buckle of Gold at the End, to fasten it about the
Leg; but there’s no doubt but it was wrought with rich Embroidery, and
the Motto rais’d with Gold, Pearl, and sundry Sorts of Silk, as may be
guess’d from the Garters anciently plac’d on the left side of the
Knights-Companions Mantles, and those other little embroider’d Garters,
wherewith their Surcoats and Hoods were heretofore embellish’d.
[Illustration:
The present Habits, Ensigns and Badges, belonging to the Officers of
the Garter.
_The Prelate & Chancellors Mantle._
_Registers, Garters & Black Rods Mantle._
_Garters Scepter._
_Black Rod_
_Chancellors Badge_
_Garters Badge_
_Black Rods Badge_
]
[Illustration:
_Chancellors Badge_
_Garters Badge_
_Black Rods Badge_
_The Garter_
_The Sovereigns Mantle._
_Hood._ _Surcoat._
_The Collar and Great George_
_Ribbond & George_
_A Knight Companions Mantle._
_Cap and Feather._
]
BUT of those wrought in the last Age, we have more particular
Satisfaction; for we find the Garter sent to _Emanuel_ Duke of _Savoy_,
_Anno_ 1 and 2 _Philip_ and _Mary_, was set with Letters of Goldsmith’s
Work, the Buckle and Pendant of the same, and on the Pendant a Ruby,
and a Pearl hanging at the End. The Garter made for _Francis_ II.
_Anno_ 6 _Elizabeth_, was richly wrought with Letters of Gold, set off
and garnish’d with Stones, the Buckle and Pendant weighing Three Ounces
and an half-quarter, was richly set with Rubies and Diamonds. The
_French_ King _Henry_ IV. had a Garter of Purple Velvet embroider’d
with Letters of Gold, and deck’d out with Diamonds and Rubies. And the
Garter of _Christian_ IV. King of _Denmark_, was embroider’d with Gold
and Pearls: But that Garter sent to _Gustavus Adolphus_ King of
_Sweden_, outvied all others conferr’d by former Sovereigns, each
Letter of the Motto being compos’d of small Diamonds; and for every
Stop, a Diamond within a Range of Diamonds, above and below, on the
sides of the Garter, and besides other Diamonds on the Buckle, and
about the same, to the Number in all of 411.
THE Garter which King _Charles_ I. wore upon his Leg at the Time of his
Martyrdom, had the Letters of the Motto compos’d likewise of Diamonds,
which amounted to the Number of 412. It came to the Hands of Captain
_Preston_ (one of the Usurper’s Captains) from whom the Trustees, for
Sale of the King’s Goods, receiv’d it, and sold it to _Ireton_,
sometimes Lord Mayor of _London_, for 205 _l._ But after the
Restoration, the King’s Attorney-General proceeding upon an Action of
_Trover_ and _Conversion_, Verdict was given for the King against him
for 205 _l._ and 10 _l._ costs of Suits, in _Trinity_ Term, 16 _Car._
II.
THE Motto of King _Charles_ II. was set with Diamonds upon Blue Velvet,
and the Borders wrought with fine Gold Wire; the Diamonds which framed
the Letters of the Motto, were Rose Diamonds, much of a Size or
Proportion; but those which framed the Stops, Table-Diamonds; the Total
which set each Letter, compos’d the Stops, Ilot Holes, and adorn’d the
Buckle; the Table was Two Hundred and Fifty; the Hinge of the Buckle
was pure Gold, and on it the Sovereign’s Picture to the Breast,
curiously cut in Flat-stitch, crown’d with a Laurel and the military
Garb of the first _Roman_ Emperors; the Table or Pendant was Gold, and
on the back-side thereof engrav’d St. _George_ on Horse-back
encountring the Dragon.
THIS noble Ensign, the Garter, was at the Erection of the Order
appointed to be wore on the left Leg, a little beneath the Knee, which
Usage still presides: And the placing it thus, on the Sepulchral
Portraictures of Knights-Companions, was an early Custom; for on the
Alabaster Monument of Sir _William Fitz-warin_, who was interr’d in the
North-side of the Chancel at _Wantage_ in _Com. Berks_, 35 _Edw._ III.
he lies there with his Surcoat of Arms upon his Breast, and the
Representation of a Garter (but without Motto) carv’d upon his left
Leg. In the same Posture lies Sir _Richard Pembridge_, elected a
Knight-Companion, _temp. Edw._ III. and is portraicted on his Monument
in the South-side of the Cathedral of _Hereford_, below the Pulpit, and
encompass’d with a Rail of Iron-Spikes.
THE next Monument whereon the Garter was depicted, was that erected for
Sir _Simon Burley_, (beheaded _A. D._ 1388.) and rear’d in the
North-Wall near the Choir of St. _Paul_’s, _London_. Thence-forward the
Practice became more frequent, and then the Motto began to be cut
thereon; insomuch that it is now the constant and just Practice to do
it, whensoever the Knights-Companions are exhibited in Effigies.
AND altho’ this Ensign was first design’d in Ornament to the left Leg,
yet it was not confin’d so solely thereto, but was anciently us’d to
incircle the Escutcheon of St. _George_’s Arms, worn by the Sovereign
and Knights-Companions on their Mantles, who within a small space after
us’d it to surround their own proper Coat of Arms, which their
Successors have retain’d as their peculiar Privilege, permitting it to
none but to their principal Officer, the Prelate of the Order.
THE first Example that occurs, is the before-mention’d of Sir _Francis
Burley_, where, on the Front, towards the Head, is his own Arms
empaling his first Wife’s, set within a Garter, (wanting the Impress;)
but another having the same Empalement, (plac’d below the Feet) is
surrounded with a Collar of SS. of the same Form with that about his
Neck.
THE Monument also of _Joan_, Wife of _Ralph Nevil_, Earl of
_Westmoreland_, on the South-side of the Choir, in the Cathedral of
_Lincoln_, bears the Arms of _Nevil_, empaling those of _Joan_, his
Wife, (who dy’d _A. D._ 1410.) Incircled within a Garter, and fix’d on
this Lady’s Monument, Daughter to _John_ of _Gaunt_, Duke of
_Lancaster_, is there such a Collar of SS. placed about a Square; but
the Paint being faded, was render’d unintelligible.