Service and Attendance, having a greater share of Business than any
other Officer of the _Order_. As to the first of these, it was ordained
by the Constitutions of his Office; _That as often as any Knight should
happen to be installed, he might challenge for himself the Garments
wore by him, immediately before his Investiture with the Surcoat of
the_ Order. And the constant Practice hath interpreted this to be the
Knight’s upper Garment, anciently a short Gown, of later times a Cloak,
but now a Coat; which he puts off in the _Chapter-House_ when the
_Investiture_ begins.
By the Establishment of _Installation_ Fees, _Anno_ 22 _Car._ II. the
composition set upon each _Knight-Companion_ for his upper Garment, was
thus rated.
_l._ _s._ _d._
A Prince of _Wales_ 60 00 00
A Duke 55 00 00
A Marquiss 50 00 00
An Earl 45 00 00
A Viscount 40 00 00
A Baron 35 00 00
A Knight-Batchelor 30 00 00
Besides this Droit or Composition, there hath in all times been paid to
_Garter_ by every _Knight-Companion_, a Fee for his _Installation_,
which was likewise brought to the following certainty by the said
Establishment.
_l._ _s._ _d._
A Stranger King 30 00 00
A Stranger Prince 20 00 00
A Prince of _Wales_ 40 00 00
A Duke 35 00 00
A Marquiss 30 00 00
An Earl 25 00 00
A Viscount 20 00 00
A Baron 25 00 00
A Knight-Batchelor 10 00 00
The Fee due to the _Black-Rod_ by the said Establishment, is, from
_l._ _s._ _d._
A Stranger King 20 00 00
A Stranger Prince 20 00 00
A Prince of _Wales_ 40 00 00
A Duke 20 00 00
A Marquiss 18 00 00
An Earl 16 00 00
A Viscount 14 00 00
A Baron 12 00 00
A Knight-Batchelor 10 00 00
The _Officers_ of _Arms_, by the said Establishment, have the same Fees
as are allowed the _Black-Rod_; only in the Fee of a Stranger King,
they have an addition of ten Pounds more.
_Fees belonging to other of the Sovereign’s Servants._
§ 3. In the Lists of _Installation_ Fees of former times, some Officers
were set down, who gave their attendance, with the several Sums they
receiv’d, some that were then accounted Fees, and others Benevolences;
all which nevertheless were admitted into the List of _Installation_
Fees, 22 _Car._ II. and though not entered into the _Register_ of the
_Order_, yet are to be given in under the Hand of _Garter_, with the
other Fees payable at _Installations_, and to be paid by every Knight
to all Persons concern’d respectively, according to ancient Custom,
_viz._
Prince. Duke. Marquiss. Earl.
To the Wardrobe | 06 00 00 | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 0
The Trumpets | 12 00 00 | 06 00 00 | 05 00 00 | 04 00 0
The Serj. Trumpet | 02 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 0
The Musicians | 16 00 00 | 08 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 06 00 0
Drums and Fifes | 04 00 00 | 02 00 00 | 01 15 00 | 01 10 0
Knight-Harbinger | 03 06 08 | 03 06 08 | 03 06 08 | 03 06 8
The Porters | 06 00 00 | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 0
Master Cook | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0
Serjeant Porter | 06 00 00 | 03 00 00 | 02 00 00 | 01 00 0
To the Vestry | 02 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 0
Yeomen Harbingers | 06 00 00 | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 0
Ushers of the Hall | 02 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0
Grooms of Chamb. | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0
Yeomen Ushers | 06 13 04 | 03 06 08 | 03 00 00 | 02 10 0
Quarter Waiters | 08 16 00 | 04 08 04 | 03 16 08 | 03 06 8
Sewers | 08 00 00 | 04 08 04 | 03 16 08 | 03 06 8
Buttery | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0
Pantry | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0
Cellar | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0
Viscount. Baron. Kt-Batch.
To the Wardrobe | 01 15 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00
The Trumpets | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 00
The Serj. Trumpeter | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
The Musicians | 05 00 00 | 04 00 00 | 03 00 00
Drums and Fifes | 01 05 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
Knight-Harbinger | 03 06 08 | 03 06 08 | 03 06 08
The Porters | 02 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 00 00
Master Cook | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
Serjeant Porter | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
The Vestry | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
Yeomen Harbingers | 02 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 00 00
Ushers of the Hall | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
Grooms of Chamber | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
Yeomen Ushers | 02 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 00 00
Quarter Waiters | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 00
Sewers | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 00
Buttery | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
Pantry | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
Cellar | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00
_Fees payable for Strangers._
§ 4. That Strangers should be liable to the demand of Fees, was thought
unreasonable; therefore by the _Statutes_ of _Institution_, the
Sovereign is obliged to pay them; the first Example whereof that we
meet with, is an Order, 1 _Hen._ VI. which appointed: _That the usual
Fees, due for the_ Installation _of the King of_ Denmark, _should be
discharg’d by the Sovereign, as the_ Statute _enjoin’d_.
To this purpose Privy-Seals were issued to the Lord Treasurer for the
time being, to pay the Fees to the _Register_ of the _Order_ out of the
_Exchequer_, which was the constant Custom, till King _Charles_ I. in
the 13th Year of his Reign, settled an Annual Pension of 1200 _l._ upon
the _Order_; and by a Commission in the said Year, impower’d the
Chancellor of the _Order_, and his Successors, to pay out of the same,
not only the ordinary, but also extraordinary Charges of the _Order_;
wherein the Fees for _Installation_ of Strangers are included.
Notwithstanding the Sovereign (as we have shown) discharg’d the
_Installation_ Fees due from Strangers, yet they or their _Proctors_
for them, did always bestow particular Rewards on the _College_, the
Officers of the _Order_ and of _Arms_, the _Alms-Knights_, and some
others who attended the Solemnity, and in particular _Garter_ had
anciently bestowed on him a rich Gown, to wear at the time of
_Installation_, but of late he has been presented with some other thing
of considerable Value. They also were liberal to the Officers of
_Arms_, as appears by several _Largesses_ given to them by their
_Proctors_, and in general to the greatest part of those that gave
their Attendance.
CAP. XVIII.
_Of the Grand Feast of the_ Order.
_The Grand Feast appointed to be celebrated Annually on
St._ George’_s_ Day.
§ 1. By the _Statutes_ of _Institution_, it’s ordain’d, That a solemn
Festival should be Annually celebrated on the 23d Day of _April_, or
St. _George_’s _Day_, in Honour of the Patron of the _Order_, as is
observed in other military Orders, erected since this of the _Garter_,
to which this seems to give Rules of holding their Festivals on the
Anniversary of their Patrons. Thus _Philip_, Duke of _Burgundy_, on his
erecting the _Order_ of the _Golden Fleece_, taking St. _Andrew_ for
its Patron, appointed the Festival on St. _Andrew_’s _Day_. _Lewis_ XI.
King of _France_, appointed _Michaelmas Day_ for holding the Feast of
the _Order_ of St. _Michael_. And so the Festival of the Duke of
_Savoy_’s _Order_ of the _Annunciade_, on _Lady Day_. The Duke of
_Bourbon_’s _Order_ of the Knights of our _Lady_, on the Conception of
our _Lady_ (8th _December_;) and other instances might likewise be
given if it were necessary.
_The Anniversary of St._ George _fixed by the Church,
to the twenty third of_ April.
§ 2. That the 23d of _April_ was the Day whereon St. _George_ suffered
Martyrdom by Beheading, appears from the _Greek Hexamiter_ before his
Commemoration; which was the Day observed both by the _Greek_ and
_Latin Church_; as also by our Predecessors, the _Saxons_.
_St._ George’_s_ Day _made_ Festum duplex.
§ 3. After the Sovereign and _Knights-Companions_ had encreased the
Honour of their Patron’s Festival, our Church began to take greater
notice of it, being now also esteemed among us as the Patron of the
Nation; and therefore they bestowed an addition of Honour upon it, by
making it _Festum duplex, ad Modum Majorum Duplicis_. 3 _Hen._ V.
_The Place for celebrating the Grand Feast, assigned to_ Windsor-Castle.
§ 4. The Founder of this most Noble _Order_ having fixed on this Day,
for performing its Solemnities, he made Choice of that of his Nativity,
the _Castle_ of _Windsor_, which for a long time after was inviolably
observed there, either upon the very Day, or some other appointed by
Prorogation, not long after: For which way of Prorogation, allowance
was given by the _Statutes_ of the _Order_, and of which the
_Registers_ are full of instances.
_St._ George’_s_ Day _kept apart from the Grand Feast,
and how then observed_.
§ 5. How this Noble _Order_ flourished from its Foundation to the time
of _Henry_ V. no Account can be given, since the Annals thereof are
wanting to his Reign; but then it appears to have been in considerable
Splendor; but the Civil Wars toward the end of _Henry_ VIth’s Reign,
eclipsed it for a while. Under King _Edward_ IV. when things were a
little settled, it seem’d to recover; and in King _Henry_ VIIIth’s
time, was at a greater heighth than ever. However, though the several
Branches of the _Order_ receiv’d some Augmentation from the influence
of this Monarch, yet the Grand Feast began to decline, by a removal of
the observation of St. _George_’s _Day_ from _Windsor_, and a
prorogatory Celebration of the Grand Feast to other times.
The Article of the _Statutes_, causing this great alteration from the
original design of the first Institution, gives the Sovereign Power to
prorogue the Grand Feast at his Pleasure; but then ’tis evident from
the same Statute, that St. _George_’s _Day_ was nevertheless ordained
to be duly observed by it self, in what Place soever the Sovereign (if
within the Realm) should then reside; _Windsor_ hereby being not
excluded.
It farther implies, the sacred _Rites_ and _Offices_ to be performed,
with other Matters concerning the _Order_; for besides the particulars
therein enumerated, this general Clause is observable: That what other
urgent Affair soever, relating to the _Order_, should offer it self to
be performed, the same might be treated of, and receive dispatches, in
the _Chapter_ held where the Sovereign then should be, as fully as if
he were at _Windsor Castle_.
So that henceforward, all things began to be ordered, both on the Eve
the Day of St. _George_, and the Morrow after, with as great State; all
Affairs as legally dispatched, and all Ceremonies as magnificently
performed, except that of offering up of Atchievements, which is
peculiar to the Chappel of St. _George_ at _Windsor_ only, as could be
observed at the _Grand Festival_ it self.
And how, by Virtue of this Article, and with what Ceremonies St.
_George_’s _Day_ was held, when the Grand Feast was prorogued, is
evident from a full and ample Precedent, 22 _Hen._ VIII. now remaining
in the _Office_ of _Arms_.
For though the Sovereign with 13 _Knights-Companions_ were at _Windsor_
that Year, upon the 22, 23 and 24 of _April_, yet at that time they
observed only the Feast Day of St. _George_, with the Eve and Morrow
after, but deferred, by Order in _Chapter_, the Celebration of the
Grand Feast, to the 8th of _May_ ensuing.
_The Grand Feast neglected by King_ Edward _VI._
§ 6. From the Accession of this Prince, the Sovereignty of this _Order_
became more neglected, so that during his Reign, no Anniversary of St.
_George_ was kept at _Windsor_, by a _Grand Festival_.
This is supposed to be owing to the common Calamity of that Age,
wherein most Ceremonies, solemn or splendid, especially such as related
to Divine Services, came under the denomination of being either
Superstitious or Idolatrous. Insomuch, that at a _Chapter_ held at
_Greenwich_, 2 _Edw._ VI. an Abolition being intended for such
Ceremonies as were not consonant to the King’s Injunctions, lately
prescribed, it was then decreed, that then, and for ever from
thenceforth, at the Feast of this most Noble _Order_, no other
Ceremonies should be observed than such as were appointed by his
Majesties Letter.
_That no Procession should be made with going about the Church, or
Church-yard, but the King’s Majesty’s Procession, lately set forth in_
English _to be used. His Majesty and other_ Knights-Companions _sitting
in their Stalls, at the Entry, such Reverences to be made to the King’s
Majesty only as was heretofore. The Offering to be in the Box for the
Poor, without any other Reverence, or kissing any Paten, or other
thing; but only at the return, due Reverence to the King, as was used
before. The Mass of_ Requiem _to be left undone, but yet, both on St._
George’_s_ Day, _and for next Day, a Mass to be Sung with great
Reverence; in which, immediately after the Words of Consecration is
said, the Priest shall say the_ Pater Noster, _and so turn and
Communicate to all, or so many of the_ Order, _or other, after they
have done, as shall be disposed to receive the Communion, according to
the_ Order _prescribed by his Majesty’s Book of Communion, and without
any other Rite or Ceremony after the said Communion to be used; except
some godly Psalm or Hymn to be Sung in_ English, _and so to end the
said Service. All_ Chapters, _and other Rites concerning the_ Order,
_not being contrary to these, to remain as they have been used._
This Decree seemed to mean nothing less than a Prohibition to the
holding the Grand Feast at _Windsor_, at least the neglect of its
Celebration there, whilst King _Edw._ VI. lived: And though toward the
End of his Reign, some care was taken for a Permission to hold the said
Feast, either on St. _George_’s _Day_, or some other appointed by
Prorogation; yet it was without any regard to the ancient and usual
Place; for when the Act passed, commanding the Days therein mentioned
to be kept Holy, and no other, whereby this was involved among many
other Saints Days then prohibited to be kept, as not being found among
the Feasts then Establish’d; it was considered, that a Proviso and
Allowance should be entered in the aforesaid Act, for the Celebration
of this Feast, particularly by the _Knights-Companions_; which Act,
though it suffered a Repeal by Queen _Mary_, yet stands in force at
this Day, being revived by King _James_ I. his repealing that _Statute_
of 1 _Mar._ _Cap._ 2.
_Removed from_ Windsor _by Queen_ Elizabeth.
§ 7. But the most fatal Blow given to the growing Honour of the Castle
of _Windsor_, was a Decree in _Chapter_ held 9 _Eliz._ with the consent
of the _Knights-Companions_ then present, _viz._
_That if on the Vigil and Day of St._ George, _the Feast was not held
at_ Windsor, _according to the usual Custom, it should nevertheless be
sufficient, if the Observation thereof were kept at the same Place
where the Sovereign should then happen to be, where also the rest of
the_ Knights-Companions _were obliged to be present, no less than if
the Feast had been held at_ Windsor.
And so severe was the latter part of this Decree against the
flourishing condition of that Place, that it commanded also,
_That no other Solemnity, under the notion of St._ George’_s Feast,
should thenceforth be celebrated at_ Windsor, _except upon occasion of
the_ Installation _of some illustrious Person, and then also, not
without express leave of the Sovereign._
And to say truth, this _Statute_ was but too strictly observed during
her Reign; for we meet but with one Feast of St. _George_ held there,
till 1 _Jac._ I. (unless we mistake the Feasts of _Installation_ for
those of St. _George_,) but then the Sovereign, who was yet in
_Scotland_, lent his Commission, dated 5 _April_, to the Earl of
_Nottingham_, his _Lieutenant_, to prorogue the Festival to the 3d
_July_ following, and after constituted him to hold the Feast, which
was performed the 2, 3 and 4 Days of the said Month, with all Pomp and
Ceremony. The King himself, being then at _Windsor_, was prevented from
being present by some occasion not mentioned.
Thus, after a long Interval, the Honour of the Feast was restored,
which had this effect, toward the End of King _James_ I. Reign, and
that of his Son and Successor, King _Charles_ I. that it begat a
Re-union of the Feast and Place, whereby the Castle of _Windsor_,
famous for the _Institution_ of this most Noble _Order_, retrieved its
ancient Honour, of having its Solemnities celebrated there.
_Of Prorogation of the Grand Feast._
§ 8. Having thus noted, that from the beginning of King _Henry_
VIIIth’s Reign, till of late Years, the Grand Feast was seldom observed
upon the precise Day of St. _George_; and that the occasion how both
Day and Feast came to be celebrated apart, took its rise from the
indulgence of the _Statutes_ in point of Prorogation: ’Tis necessary
farther to observe, that this Prorogation is of two sorts, either
Absolute, as being enjoined by the _Statutes_; or else Arbitrary, at
the Sovereign’s Pleasure, upon intervening Reasons.
In the first of these the Founder’s _Statutes_ enjoin, _That if the
Feast of St._ George _shall happen within fifteen Days next after_
Easter Day, _it shall be prorogued to the Sunday Fortnight, or fifteen
Days after_ Easter Day. And the reason is there given, _That every of
the_ Knights-Companions _might have opportunity of coming thereto,
without being constrained to ride upon any of those three Holy Days
preceeding_ Easter Day. The same Rule for Prorogation, where there is a
concurrence of these two Feasts, is likewise enjoin’d by the _Statutes_
of King _Henry_ V. and King _Henry_ VIII.
And when the Grand Feast, in this case of _Easter_, has been
kept before the expiration of the said fifteen Days, the
_Knights-Companions_ then absent, to avoid the Penalty for their not
appearing, have made Excuse; that the ancient _Statutes_ of the _Order_
were violated in keeping the Feast within fifteen Days after _Easter_,
as was alledged when Sir _John Denham_, Lord Treasurer, as President,
held the Feast of St. _George_ at _Windsor_, 24 _April_, 8 _Henry_ VII.
Anciently, where the _Register_ mentions the Grand Feast to be held at
_Windsor_, beyond the Day of St. _George_, ’tis observable upon
Calculation, that _Easter Day_, in those times, fell too near the 23d
of _April_, to celebrate the Feast on, without breaking the Law, which
was the real cause of those Prorogations, of which there are many
Instances.
And as the _Knights-Companions_ had Prohibitions put upon the
Solemnization of their Feast, in case of its interfering with _Easter_,
so had the Church of _England_, in their Observation of St. _George_’s
_Day_, in reference to several other Festivals; and this continued till
the time of the Reformation begun by King _Edward_ VI. but since the
Grand Feast has been celebrated upon any of them indifferently the
Feast of _Easter_ only excepted.
The second sort of Prorogations, which are meerly Arbitrary, and wholly
dependent on the Sovereign’s Pleasure, yet warranted sufficiently from
the Words, _Causa postulante_, mentioned in King _Henry_ VIII’s
Statutes; as likewise the great Latitude given the Sovereigns of this
most Noble _Order_, in reference to their Affairs, in the same
Statutes: The first Precedent of which was, _Anno_ 5 _Hen._ V. when
about _August_, four Months after St. _George_’s _Day_, that King being
engaged in the Wars of _France_, ordered the Feast to be celebrated at
_Caen_ in _Normandy_, and with great Solemnity created fifteen Knights
into the _Order_.
There are several other Examples, particularly one 8 _Hen._ VIII. when
the King being at _Eltham_ on St. _George_’s _Day_, it was in a
_Chapter_ there held, Decreed, That the accustomed Feast of St.
_George_ should be observed at _Windsor_ 25th of _May_ ensuing. And
from this time it became Annually customary, to keep the Day of St.
_George_ where the Sovereign at that time made his Abode: On which Day,
and the Day after, the usual Solemnities were observed. But as to the
Solemnization of the Grand Feast itself, that was in one of the
_Chapters_ then held, adjourned to some farther time, and then
solemnized at _Windsor_ by Prorogation, not by the Sovereigns
themselves, but by their _Lieutenants_ and their _Assistants_ appointed
for that purpose.
But to proceed with the Causes of Prorogation, which were either for
some weighty reasons, or upon emergent Occasions; _Anno_ 1 _Mariæ_, the
Sovereign celebrating the Feast of St. _George_ at St. _James_’s,
_Philip_, Prince of _Spain_, and the Earl of _Sussex_, were on the
Morrow after elected into the _Order_; whereupon it was likewise
Decreed, that the Inauguration of these two _elect Knights_, till the
Prince came to _England_, which happening _21st July_ following, the
Grand Feast, together with that of the _elect Knights_ Installations,
were appointed to be celebrated at the same time.
Again 3 and 4 _Phil._ and _Mar._ at a _Chapter_ held _22d April_, the
Feast of St. _George_, together with the Installation of three _elect
Knights_, was appointed to be held at _Windsor_ the _9th_ of _May_
ensuing; and by a _Chapter_ summon’d the _3d_ of _May_, before the
appointed Day for holding the Feast, the same was prorogued to the
_15th_ of _December_ following, upon the pressing Affairs of the King
and Queen. But before that design’d time came, another _Chapter_ was
held on the _31st_ of _October_, wherein it was again prorogu’d to the
first Sunday after _Twelfth-day_, viz. _9 January_, if by that time the
King, who was then in _Flanders_, should return to _England_: But that
not happening, it was farther prorogu’d to the _20th_ of _February_;
and thence, by another Decree, to St. _George_’s _Day_. Of which there
are many other Examples, and sometimes upon other Occasions; but still
at the Sovereign’s Pleasure.
_Of Commissions of Prorogation._
§ 9. There is no Precedent of Commissions for Prorogation, ancienter
than 12 _Car._ I. left by Sir _Thomas Rowe_, wherein Notice is taken of
all the Adjournments of the Grand Feasts, from St. _George_’s _Day_
preceeding, till that Time, with the Reasons thereof, and chiefly upon
Consideration of the spreading Sickness, together with a Command to the
_Knights-Companions_, and the Officers of the _Order_, to attend the
Sovereign on the new assign’d Days for celebrating the Feast.
As to the Substance hereof, the succeeding Commissions very near agree,
yet with some little Difference; as first, the Preambles are general,
and run thus: _Whereas, upon special Reasons, and other important
Affairs_, &c. except the Commission issu’d _25th February_, 1637. where
the Preamble was fitted to a special Occasion, and runs thus,——_Whereas
we have determined to create the Prince, our eldest Son, a Knight, and
to propose him in Election as a Companion of our most Noble_ Order,
_for the more Conveniency of his_ Installation, _We have thought fit to
defer the Feast of St._ George, _&c._
But in the Commissions of Prorogation of the Grand Feast, _25th
February_, 19 _Car._ I. the Place appointed for Celebration is omitted,
which Defect we find in the above-mentioned Precedent also; yet
afterwards that material Part came to be inserted, and first of all in
that Commission of the _26th February_, 14 _Car._ I. where the Place,
being the City of _York_, is put into the Body of the Commission. And
when the Civil War drew on, and the Sovereign could not well ascertain
any Place, then the Grand Feast was appointed to be kept at any such
Place as, on a nearer View, should seem convenient; afterwards it
vary’d something, and came to be inserted thus,—_Wheresoever We shall
then be_; or thus, _at such Places as We shall timely appoint_.
The most ordinary course, preparatory to the issuing such Commissions
of Prorogation, has been by the Sovereign’s Declaration in _Chapter_,
or otherwise the Signification of his Pleasure to the Chancellor of the
_Order_ at any other Time, who thereupon drew up the Commission, and
presented it to the Sovereign for his Sign Manual, and then affixed
thereto the great Seal of the _Order_. But where the Chancellor was not
at Hand to receive the Sovereign’s Commands, in this Case it was
convey’d to him by some other Hand, with command to summon the
_Knights-Companions_ and Officers accordingly. For so it was done to
Sir _Francis Windebank_, Knt. Secretary of State, by his Letter to Sir
_Thomas Rowe_, 13 _Car._ I. for Prorogation of the Grand Feast.
And as all the preceeding Adjournments of the Grand Feast have been
either decreed in _Chapter_, or directed immediately from the
Sovereign; so there is a Precedent where the _Lieutenant_ has been
impowered to prorogue the same; yet to the Time and Place appointed by
the Sovereign, and inserted in the Commission of _Lieutenancy_: And
this was in a Commission, 1 _Jac._ I. directed to _Charles_, Earl of
_Nottingham_.
_That the Grand Feast ought to be celebrated once a Year._