awarded him, until the Constitutions in reference to the Officers were
Established. At that time there was conferr’d on him a Pension of
100_l._ _per Annum_, in consideration of his Employment, or else an
allowance proportionate in Fees, Offices or other Promotions, over and
above his Lodgings in the Castle, and Liveries at Court. But as to Fees
and Perquisites, there are none to be Claimed by this Officer; and for
that Reason, he not only possesses the said Pension, but all his
disbursements allowed him, even to Paper, Wax, and Wafers; and indeed
those who enjoyed the Office esteem’d it as a degradation of their
Post, to receive either fee, or gratuity for any affair Transacted
within the Order; and Sir _Thomas Rowe_, sometime Chancellor, affirmed
_That his Office was an Office of Honour, and not of Fees, and that he
had always excepted against Fees, for the disbursement of the
Sovereign’s Money_: Tho’ he acknowledged some had bestowed on his Clerk
a small gratuity, for the bare Ingrossing of an Alms Knights Patent,
but nothing farther.
AND because the Custody of the Seals of the Order, appertains to this
Officer; it will be here the fittest Place to mention something of
them. By the Statutes of _Edw._ III. they were to have a Common Seal.
This is confirmed by the Statutes of King _Hen._ V. and since named the
Great Seal of the Order. The use of this is not only to Seal the
Original Statutes, appointed to remain perpetually within the Treasury
of _Windsor_ College, as also those Copies of which each
Knight-Companion is obliged to conserve one, but likewise all Letters
of Licence to any of the Knights-Companions desirous of winning Honour
abroad, and all Mandates and Certificates, relating to the Order.
AFTER what Model the first Seal was compos’d, we have no exact
Relation. _Polydore Virgil_ tells us, That when the Founder of the
Order had fixed Choice of St. _George_ for its Patron, he represented
him Armed, and Mounted on an Horse, bearing a Silver Shield, and
thereon a Red Cross, but whether St. _George_ thus designed, was on the
first Seal, or only a Scutcheon of his Arms, as in latter times, is
uncertain. But his Author observes that the Founder Habited his
Soldiers in white Jackets or Coats, and on their Breasts and Backs
sowed Red Crosses, parallel to the Arms assigned to St. _George_, as
well as to the Kingdom of _England_, put under his Patronage, which
Arms the Sovereigns of the Order, have ever since exhibited in their
Standards. But besides this Common Seal King _Hen._ V. in the 9th Year
of his Reign, Instituted a privy Signet, in case the Sovereign should
be called out of this Kingdom upon weighty Affairs. The intent thereof
was to affix it to all Acts passed by the Sovereign beyond Sea, to
distinguish them from those of his Deputies in _England_. King _Hen._
VIII’s Statutes, Ordain the making both of a Common Seal and Signet,
and direct that the Arms of the Order should be Engraven upon each of
them. The Common Seal used in his Reign was a Garter, within it a
Shield having the Cross of St. _George_, impaling the National Arms,
the said Shield encompassed with two Branches hanging from the Regal
Crown, which debruses part of the Garter; the Signet being designed
after the same manner, but less: _Temp. Jac._ I. it suffered no other
alteration, but only in the National Arms, by admitting the Quarterings
of _Scotland_ and _Ireland_, and new-fashioning the Crown, omitting the
suspension of the Shield.
THERE was a Seal made at the beginning of the Reign of King _Cha._ I.
which being esteemed too little for the Grandure and Honour of the
Sovereigns Commissions, if was afterwards Decreed in Chapter, held 18th
of _April._ 13. Car. I. _That a new one should be made of a larger
Size, with the accustomed Arms and Motto, and the care thereof commited
to Sir_ Thomas Rowe, _Chancellor_; which Command he Executed with all
due care and regard, as is manifestly evident by the nobleness of the
design: One Representation being St. _George_, in Armour, adorned with
a waveing Mantle, his Bever open, his Helmet plumed, holding a Shield
of his Arms in his left Hand, and striking with a Sword in his right,
his Body mounted on a bold Horse, Trampling over a Dragon, which
Assails the Champion, the whole Figure is well contracted, and the Sun,
a Rock, the Bones of devoured Men, and a Mountain in _Lointon_, in it
is Circumscribed, _Magnum sigillum Nobilis Ordinis Garterij_; having
the enrichments of festons between every Word placed pentagonally: The
other Representation, is the Royal Garter imperially Crowned, enclosing
a Shield of the Arms of St. _George_, impaling the Sovereign’s Arms,
the same Bordered with Fret-work, and other Ornaments in Cartouche. In
the same decree, direction was given also for a new Signet, the former
being thought too big for Letters, and this was an Oval shaped so from
its Impression, which was the Garter Crowned, wherein was St. _George_,
and the Sovereigns Arms impaled.
IT was at the same Chapter further decreed; “That all Legations to
deliver this Order to Foreign Princes, all other Acts, bearing the
Stile of Commissions, all Patents of Offices and Fees, all Grants or
Licences sent out of the Kingdom, should be Sealed with this Seal,
which should be henceforward called the Great Seal of the Order; so
also the Book of Statutes, sent to Elect Knights or Foreign Princes,
being fixed to a Label of Blue Silk, and held according to antient
Custom; and that all Letters concerning the Order, whether of
signification of Election, or Lieutenancy, or Summons upon prorogation,
or other Directions from the Sovereign, should only be Sealed with the
Signet: Moreover, these Seals were appointed to be thenceforth Born
before the Sovereign in all Publick Assemblies, during the Celebration
of St. _George_’s Feast, or in other its Solemnities by the Chancellor
of the Order, in a Purse of blue Velvet,” and Command given to Sir
_Thomas Rowe_, to provid one accordingly; on the foreside of which
Purse was richly Embroidred (by a Gold-Smith) with _Venice_ Gold and
Silver, Gold and Silver Purls and Plates, and variety of _Naples_
Silks, the Arms of St. _George_ impaling the Sovereign, surrounded with
a Garter Crowned, having a very fair Running Work, or Compartment round
about it, the charge of which amounted to 13 _l._ 16 _s._ 10 _d._
BY the Statutes of Institution, it was ordained, That in case the
Knights-Companions, to whose care the Sovereign did commit the Seal of
the Order, should upon lawful Occasions, be absent from Court, it
behoves him to leave it behind him, with some other Knight-Companion to
present, to the Sovereign, to the intent it might be always in
readiness; but if the Sovereign be out of His Kingdom, then the
disposal of it, was commited to the Deputies, and the Signet of the
Order should have a Warrant for all such Acts and Decrees as should be
confirmed there.
THE distance from Court was by the Constitutions, restricted to 10
Miles, and by the Statutes of King _Hen._ VIII. to 20. upon
consideration whereof we find Sir _Thomas Rowe_ Chancellor, having some
occasions, _Anno_ 13 _Car._ I. to be absent above 20 Miles, tendred the
Seals to the Sovereign, who was pleased to dispence with the Statutes,
and permitted him to keep them nevertheless.
§ 3. THE Registers Oath, Mantle, Badge, Privileges and Pension, fall
next under our consideration; he was one of the three, Constituted at
the Institution of the Order, under the Title of _Registrator_ and
_Registrarius_, and so is called in the Statutes of King _Hen._ V.
elsewhere in the Books of the Order, _Scriba_ and _Actuarius_. What
were the first Registers, names we cannot discover, till the Reign of
King _Hen._ V. But it may be presumed, they were Canons of _Windsor_;
because this Office was at first assigned to one of that College;
besides the Registers from the Reign of King _Henry_ V. to the
beginning of King _Henry_ VIIIth Reign, were also Canons of this
College, among whom was _John Coningham_, (and the first found called
so) as the Fragments of a Glass Inscription in _Clare_ Church near
_Windsor_, where he was Rector, attests. The first Dean of _Windsor_,
Constituted Register of the Order was _John Vesey_, Anno 8. _Hen._
VIII. many of whose Successors in this Deanry, have since been
admitted; nevertheless, as they were Canons not Deans of _Windsor_, and
tis not improbable the Deans were Elected to this Office, as being
enabled to support the Reputation of the Registership, with the Revenue
of his Deanry, better than any of the Canons, with the addition of the
Pension. But at a Chapter held at _Whitehall_, the 22d of _April_, 11
_Car._ I. The Sovereign thought it convenient that the Office of Dean
and Register should concenter in one and the same Person, as formerly,
and therefore commanded this his Pleasuer to be Enrolled among the
Annals of the Order, that so it might pass in the future Times, from
Example into Rule.
BY the Constitutions of the Office, a secular Person is made capable of
it, no less than an Ecclesiastick, how be it, _He is to be a Man of
singular integrity_, eminent quality, a Knight, and signalized for
Experience and Learning; but if an Ecclesiastick, then must he be a
Person of consummate Erudition, _a professor of Divinity or Law, either
Canon, or Civil_, and a Dignitarian in some Cathedral Church, or else a
Canon at _Windsor_.
THE substance of his Oath in the Statute of the Institutions was, _That
he should enter upon the Registry, with all Fidelity, the Scrutinies,
Elections, Penalties, Reconciliations, and all other Acts relating to
the Order_, to which was added, that he shall faithfully Discharge his
Duty in all things. But in King _Hen._ VIIIth Days, the Oath enjoyned
him, differs nothing from that of the Prelates and Chancellors.
AT his Admission, he takes this Oath Kneeling, while the Prelate used
to pronounce the Words as _Anno_ 1 _Mar._ 5. and 6. _Ph._ and _Mar._
but in his absence, as _Anno_ 3 _Eliz._ the Chancellor administred it.
_Anno_ 4. _Car_. I. the Prelate, Chancellor, and Register, took their
Oaths at one time, and then it was thus Ordered; first the Register
took it Kneeling between the Sovereign’s Knees, the Black Rod holding
the Evangelists, and the _Garter_ read the Words out of the black Book;
this done, the Register read the Words of the Prelates Oath, when he
was Sworn; and in the last place, did the like to the Chancellor; after
this manner did Garter read the Words to the Registers, admitted 11
_Car._ I. and 12 _Car._ II. We cannot trace the Habit this Officer had
assigned him at the Erection of the Order; but it afterwards appears,
that his Allowance was the same with the Chancellors, consisting of 5
Yards of Woollen Cloth, and 3 Timber of Minever gross, equalent to what
those Knights-Companions had allotted, who were under the degree of an
Earl: The Habit he is pourtrayed in, at a proceeding of King _Hen._
VIIIth Reign, shews it to be Ecclesiastical, a black Gown, a Surplice
over that, reaching to his Ancles, and thereon a Mantle of Furs; but
the Constitutions of his Office restricted him to none, wherein there
seems a defect, since they have assignd Habits to the Garter, and black
Rod. Notwithstanding by a Draught of the Officers in their ancient
Dress, it is plainly demonstrable to be a Mantle, somewhat of a Russel
colour, Faced with a Pane of blue, whereon is Embroidred a
Flower-de-luce Crowned Gold, then another Pane red, thereon a Lyon
Passant gardant Crowned Gold, and so they are alternately placed to the
bottom; to this Mantle belong Cordons of Silk, blue and yellow.
SINCE that time, not only the Registers, but also Garters and Black
Rods, Robes, underwent some Alterations; for by a Decree in Chapter,
called at St. _James_, _Jun._ 1. 4 and 5. _Ph._ and _Mar._ these
Officers were assigned Mantles of crimson Satin, Lined with Taffaty,
and a Scutcheon of St. _George_’s Arms, Embroidred on the left
Shoulder, but not encircled with a Garter, having the same Buttons and
Tassels as were appointed to the Prelate and Chancellor; the proportion
of Satin assigned to each Mantle, was 14 Yards, and as many Yards of
white Taffaty.
AND tho’ the Registers Mantle was _Ann._ 27 _Eliz._ composed of the
preceeding Materials, and had like Trimming, yet they agree not in
their Proportions, here being allowed 18 Yards of crimson Satin, and
but 12 of Taffaty; from hence these Mantles continued immutable until
the 20th of _Feb._ 13 _Car._ II. when there Issued a Warrant to the
Master of the great Wardrobe, to prepare for this Officer, as also for
Garter, and the Black Rod, for their Liveries Mantles of scarlet Satin,
each containing 18, and 10 Yards of white Taffaty for Lining, but
consonant in all other Punctilio’s with the former; yet why the colour
was altered, is not expressed.
THE Register seems to have been represented with a Scrowle in his Hand,
for his Badge, and by the proceedings in Queen _Elizabeth_’s Reign,
Pictured with a Book, both proper Symbols of his Office. In Dr.
_Christopher Wren_’s Registership, the Sovereign Commanded him to cover
the red Book of the Order with crimson Velvet, and assigned for the
Garter, two Pens in Saltire, interlacing the Garter above with these
two Letters _C R_ Crowned, all being richly Embroidred, (as also the
Border) with _Venice_ Gold and Silver, and various colours of _Naples_
Silk, by _Harrison_ the Sovereign’s Embroiderer, with a Clasp, in
Imitation of the Garter, surrounding the Representation of St.
_George_, which cost 12 _l._ 17 _s._ 6 _d._ This Book he was Ordered to
bear before his Breast, on all Solemn Occasions when he wore his
Mantle, and for his better Convenience, he made a Belt and an Ouch to
hang it by.
SO high a Regard had the Sovereigns of this Order, not only to this
Officer, but likewise to Garter and Black Rod, that they took them into
a particular Protection, and by the Constitutions of their Offices
granted them, “That they, their Goods and Servants should severally
remain under the Safe-guard of the Sovereign; and if any Injury or
Violence should chance to be offered them either by Subjects or
Forreigners, whensoever they should exhibit their Complaint to the
Sovereign, either himself or the Knights-Companions should afford them
Justice; but if the adverse Party should refuse to submit his Cause to
the Sovereign, then the Sovereign and Knights-Companions should shew
themselves so far inclinable towards these Officers, as to be ready to
allow them all favour, countenance, _&c._” consistent with Justice and
Equity.
UPON the strength and Security of this ancient Privilege, to avoid the
prolongation of a Law Suit, Dr. _Christopher Wren_ Register, Petitioned
the Sovereign in Chapter, held at _Whitehall_, the 19th of _April_, 13
_Car_. I. against one _Thornhill_, who under Pretence of Digging for
Salt-Peter, had so Undermined his Pigeon-house, Built on the Rectory of
_Knoil Magna_ in _Wiltsh._ that it fell down; and upon reading of the
Petition, it was resolved by the Sovereign, and Knights-Companions,
“That they would consider the Grant in the Constitutions, and, until it
was farther declared, the Chancellor of the Order should have Power
upon Information of any rigour upon Controverse begun in any other
Court, to write Letters under the Signet of the Order, that all
vexation against them should be superseded until Information of the
cause were given to and determination in the Cause resumed by the
Sovereign, or leave of him obtained to Proceed.” After this it is set
down, that _Thornhill_ was Summoned before the Lords Commissioners of
the Navy, and his negative Answer given in, and represented to the
Sovereign in another Chapter, conven’d the 4th of _October_ ensuing;
whereupon it was ordered, “That the Chancellor should write to the same
Lords Commissioners, and another to the Earls of _Pembroke_, _Arundel_
and _Dorset_, three of the Knights-Companions, to Empower them, that
they or any three of them, should cause the said _Thornhill_ to be
brought before them, and likewise write to any of the Inhabitants of
_Knoil_, to view and testifie the Truth, to hear any further proof on
the behalf of either Party, and to give Sentence according to Justice,
that so a tedious Suit of Law might be prevented, and the Dignity of
this most noble Order protected.” These Commands of the Chancellor
being Executed, and Certificates returned from the Country, the Knights
Companions, in a Chapter held the 23th of _May_, 14 _Car._ I. were
moved to peruse them; but before they could meet, _Thornhill_ fled, and
the Prosecution of this business ceased. Upon the same footing was it,
that the said Dr. _Wren_ obtained from King _Cha._ I. His Gracious
Protection for himself, Servants, and Estate, literally expressed in
the late War, _as the Violaters of that Order would answer this our
contrary at their Peril, Dated at_ Oxford, _under the Signet of this
our Order the_ 12th _Day of_ Dec. _in the_ 19th _Year of our Reign_.
THIS Officer by the Constitutions hath a Pension of 50 _l._ _per
Annum_, or proportionable in Fees, Offices, or other Emoluments; and
_Ann._ 1. and 2 _Ph._ and _Mar._ the same numerical Pension was
conferred on _Owen Oglethorp_, Dean of _Windsor_, out of the Exchequer,
until some Ecclesiastical Preferment of like value should devolve on
him. The same was confirmed to Dr. _Maxey_, by Decree in Chapter, 16
_Jac._ I. and afterwards to Dr. _Beaumont_, by Letters Patent, under
the Great Seal of _England_, 20 _Jac._ I. but there needed no Allotment
of Lodgings at _Windsor_ to this Officer, as there was to the rest,
since both the Canons and Dean were provided of Houses belonging to
their Ecclesiastical Dignities within the College, at the Erection of
the Order.
§ 4. THE _fourth Officer of the Order is Garter_. He Was ordained
by King _Henry_ V. with the advice and consent of all the
Knights-Companions, who for the Honour of the Order, was pleased he
should be the principal Officer within the College of Arms, and
chief of the Heralds. The Services enjoyned him, relating to the
Order, were in preceding Times, performed by the _Windsor_ Herald
of Arms, an Officer created with that Title by K. _Edward_ III.
much about the time of his Erecting this Order, and an Annual
Pension of 20 Marks, payable out of the Exchequer, by Letters
Patent for Life, which was confirmed by King _R._ II.
SIR _William Brugges_ was the Person first created Garter, and called
in the Institution of his Office, _Jartier Roy d’armys des Anglois_,
but elsewhere stiled _Willielmus Brugges, alias Dictus, Gartier Rex
Armorum_. This Sir _William_ became a great Benefactor to St.
_George_’s Church at _Stamford_, and in the Windows of the Chancel
caused to be Represented King _Edward_ III. with his twenty five
Knights-Companions kneeling, Habited in their Mantles and Surcoats of
Arms, but now much shattered and defaced; _John Smert_ his Successor
had this Office conferred on him by Letters Patents, under this Title
_Rex Armorum de Garteria_, and _John Wrythe_ was stiled _Principalis
Heraldus, & Officiarius inclyti Ordinis Garterij, Armorumq; Rex
Anglicorum_, but Sir _Gilbert Dethick_ leaving out _Heraldus_ joyned
_Principalis Rex_, which still continues.
IN the Constitutions of his Office he is called _Garterus, Rex Armorum
Angliæ_, whom the Sovereign and Knights-Companions have decreed to be a
Gentleman of Blood and Arms, of unspotted Reputation, and Born within
the Kingdom of _England_; besides as King _Hen._ V. did before, so doth
King _Hen._ VIII. declare that he shall be chief of all the Officers of
Arms, dependant upon the Crown of _England_.
THE substance of his Oath administred by the Register at his admission,
whilst he humbly kneeleth at the Sovereign’s Feet, in the Chapter
House; is,
1. _To yield Obedience to the Sovereign, and Knights-Companions._
2. _To keep Silence, and not disclose the Secrets of the Order._
3. _To make Signification of the Death of each Knight-Companion._
4. _To execute all things faithfully committed to his Care._
5. _To enquire diligently after all the noble Acts of the
Knights-Companions, and certifie them to the Register._
6. _To be faithful in the exercise of his Office._
AND such an Oath Sir _Christopher Barker_ took at a Chapter held at
_Greenwich_ 28 _Hen._ VIII. when he was made Garter.
AS for a particular Habit, we do not find any inserted in the Great
Wardrobe, whence it is presumed, he was at first distinguished from the
rest of the Officers of the Order, by his Coat Embroidred with the
Sovereign’s Arms, like as the Provincial King’s then wore. But after
the Constitutions of the Officers were Established, there was assigned
him a Habit or Mantle in all respects, resembling the Register, (saving
that the Ground whereon the Lyons and flower-de-luces were Embroidred,
was entirely Red) and this to be wore only at the publick Solemnities
of the Order. Queen _Mary_ Commanded it to be made of crimson Satin,
and so it remained till the Restoration, when the Colour was altered to
scarlet.
THIS Officer is appointed to bear a white Rod or Scepter at every Feast
of St. _George_, the Sovereign being present, gilded at both ends, and
at the top the Arms of the Order impaling the Sovereign’s Arms
pourtray’d on an oblong Cube Crowned, but no directions are given in
the Constitutions for this Crown, nor for that Ducal one on his Head
wherewith his Effigies has been represented, and yet at all great
Solemnities is never used that we can discover. There was assigned him
by Queen _Eliz._ a Badge of Gold to be worn daily by him and his
Successors, before the Breast, in a gold Chain or Ribband, and thereon
Ennamelled the Sovereign’s Arms, Crowned with an Imperial Crown, and
both surrounded with the Garter: But Sir _Edward Walker_ when made
Garter, obtained the Sovereign’s leave to Impale therein St. _George_’s
Arms, with those of the Sovereign’s, which Badge is alike on both sides.
THERE is an House appointed for his Habitation within _Windsor_ Castle,
called Garters Tower. It was by Chapter annexed for ever to the Office
of Garter, and restored to Sir _William Segar_’s Possession, 2d of
_May_, 1630. By the Constitution of his Office, he is to be allowed
Barons Service in the Sovereign’s Court, and his Table Served next
after the Dean of the Chapel, with such Liveries as of old were
accustomed.
IT appears that King _Hen._ V. after his erecting this Office, died
before he had settled a Pension upon Sir _William Brugges_, for
supportation of his little Estate, which the Knights-Companions taking
into consideration, and that he might more honourably comport himself
to the Service of the Order, till the young King should come to Age,
they being assembled in a Chapter, with the consent of the Prelate,
decreed the said Sir _William_ to receive of each of them at every
Feast of St. _George_, as is set down, _viz._
{Of the Bishop of _Winchester_ Prelate 5}
{Dukes -- -- -- 5} Marks.
{Earl -- -- 6}
Of every {Baron or Baronet 4} Nobles.
{Knight Batchelor 2}
THE first payment was agreed to be pay’d down, and so to remain in
force annually with request to the absent Knights, that for the Honour
of the Order, and causes in the Instrument express’d, they would
approve of their Ordinance which passed under the Seal of the Order,
Dated at _Windsor_, 1422. Afterwards King _Hen._ VI. in consideration
of his Services to his Father and himself, with consent of his Council,
granted to the said _Brugges_, by Letters Patent, a Pension of 20 _l._
_per Annum_, out of the Fee Farm of the City of _Winchester_ during his
pleasure, which Pension upon the surrender of his Patent he granted
anew to him and _Agnes_ his Wife, for their Lives and the longer liver
of them; and when this Office upon Sir _William Brugges_ death, was
devolved on _John Smert_, _Guyenne_ herald (3 _April_ 28 _Hen._ VI.) he
had the yearly Sum of 20 _l._ granted him therewith for Life out of the
Exchequer: But his Successor _John Wrythe_, _Norroy_, obtained an
increase of Pension to 40 _l._ _per Annum_, made payable out of the
small Customs of the City of _London_; this annual Sum was afterwards
confirmed to Garter by the Constitution of his Office, and an
Augmentation from the then Knights-Companions additional to the
Pensions granted by their Predecessors, upon the Death of King _Hen._ V.
{A Duke -- -- 4 Pounds.
{
{A Marquess -- 5}
Of{An Earl -- -- 4} Marks.
{
{A Baron -- 6}
{A Knight Batchelor 4} Nobles.