The history of the most noble Order of the Garter: Wherein is set forth an account of the town, castle, chappel, and college of Windsor; ... To which is prefix'd, a discourse of knighthood in general, ... Collected by Elias Ashmole, ... The whole illustrated with proper sculptures.

CAP. IV. Of the Castle, Chapel, and College of Windsor, &c.

HAving dispatch'd the several Orders of Knight∣hood, and trac'd them from their proper Foun∣tains, we come now to treat of the most Noble Order of the Garter; an Order, that not only grants Merit, and Honourable, and Valiant Exploits at Home, but what Imperial Heads and Persons, fam'd for the An∣tiquity of their Race, or Gallantry of Actions, have al∣ways esteem'd a further Advancement to their Glory therein to be enroll'd. For the better Explanation, it will be necessary to begin with the Description of the Castle, Chapel, and College of Windsor. The Place claims no greater Antiquity than of the Saxons, named by them Windleshore, and, as Cambden conjectures, had the Denomination from the Winding of a Shore thereabouts, as did Wandsworth in Surry, heretofore written Wind∣lesworth. The first authentick Notice is from the Donation which King Edward the Confessor made thereof to the Monks of Westminster, (as the Charter ex∣presses it) For the Hope of eternal Reward, the Remission of all his Sins, the Sins of his Father, Mother, and all his An∣cestors, to the Praise of Almighty, &c. he grants Wyndle∣shore, with all its Appurtenances, as an Endowment and perpetual Inheritance, to the Use of the Monks there, and at Westminster, that served GOD. Those Monks en∣joy'd it not long, for King William the Conqueror, in the first Year of his Reign, being greatly ••namour'd with the p••easant Situation and Commodiousness of the Place, s••tna••e so near the Thames, and the Wood fit for Game•• i••vited Eadwin, the then Abbor, and the M••nks, to ac∣cept in Exchange f••r it, Wokendune in Essex, a Mansion called Ferings, with all its Members and Hamlers, to∣gether with Fourteen Sokemen and their Lands, and o••e Fr••••hol••er, and Three Houses in Colchester, all in Essex, ••n e which it has remained in the Crown.

The King being thus possess'd, forthwi••h built a Castle upon the Hill, which, in Doomsd••y Book, contained

half an Hide of Land, and is there noted to be Parcel of the Mannor of [Clivore] Clure. This Castle King Henry I. rebuilt, and beautified with great Magni∣ficence, and, in the Tenth Year of his Reign, held his Whitsontide there with great State and Splendor. Short∣ly after, in a Charter of Peace between King Stephen and Duke Henry, (King Henry II. afterwards) this Castle was called Mola de Windesor, the Fortress of Windesor. Within this Castle was King Edward III. born, (com∣monly called Edward of Windsor) and was baptized in the old Chapel; and so great was his Affection to that Place, that he constituted it the Seat of the most noble Order of the Garter; and to embellish it the more, he founded the College of the Chapel of St. George, and much enlarged, and beautified the Castle.

For this Work he appointed several Surveyors, whom he assigned to press Hewers of Stone, Carpenters, and such other Artificers as were thought useful and neces∣sary, as also to provide Stone, Timber, and all other Materials for them. William de Wyckham (who attained to be Bishop of Winchester) was one of these Supervisors, and had that Place conferr'd on him by Letters Patent, October 30. Ed. III. And a Grant of the same Fee was likewise allowed to Robert de Bernham, viz. One Shilling a Day, while he was at Windsor, Two Shillings when he went elsewhere about that Affair, and Three Shillings per Week to his Clerk; afterwards he was chief Custos and Surveyor of this Castle, of the Mannors of Old and New Windsor, and of other Castles, Mannors, &c. be∣longing to the King, to provide Workmen, and lo••k after the Repairs, and in those Mannors to hold Leets and other Courts, Pleas of Trespass and Misdemeanours.

About the 34^th of Ed. III. it is presumed the most con∣siderable Enlargement of the Castle was made, seeing there was then great Store of the ablest Diggers and Masons impress'd, by virtue of Writs directed to the ••e∣veral Sheriffs, with Command under 100 l. Penalty to send them to Windsor the Sunday after the Feast of St. George, to work at the King's Charge, from whence they were not to depart without Wyckham's License, Se∣curity having been first taken by the Sheriffs, and re∣turned into Chancery. London found Forty; Essex, in conjunction with Her••ford, Forty; Wilts, Leicester, with

Worcester, Cambridge, with Huntington Forty, Kent, Gloucester, Somerset, with Devon, and Northampton, one with another, found also Forty a-piece. And be∣cause divers of these Workmen, for Gain and Advantage, clandestinely left Windsor to the Hindrance of the Work, all Persons were forbid to employ or retain them under Forfeiture of all they had, and likewise to arrest those that withdrew themselves from the Work, and commit them to Newgate. A. 36. Ed. III. many of them being swept away by the Pestilence, the like Writs were directed to other Sheriffs, under a Hundred Pound Pe∣nalty, to send able Men; whereupon the Counties of York sent Sixty, Derby Twenty Four, Salop Sixty, Here∣ford Fifty, Nottingham Twenty Four, Lancaster Twenty Four, and Devon Sixty. A. 37. Ed. III. The noble Edifice was ready for Glazing, and of Twenty Four of that Occupation impress'd for the King's Service, Twelve were to be employed at Windsor. In this Year and the next a great Proficiency was made, and vast Quantities of Stone were amassed, dug out of the Quarries of Wellesfor, Newel, and Carby, and other Places. From the 37th to the 43d, the Building of the Castle was diligently pursued. We find no Addition to this august Pile till his 48th Year, and after that Time nothing more during his Reign, so that it is supposed this Fa∣mous Piece for Magnificence and Str••ngth was then chiefly finished, viz. the Great Hall of St. George, the Lodgings on the East and South side of the Upper Ward, the Keep or Tower in the Middle Ward, the Chapel of St. George, the Houses for the Custos and the Canons in the Lower Ward, with the whole Circumference of the Walls, their several Towers and Gates, as in the pre∣sent Posture they remain.

IN succeeding Times King Hen. VII. added that state∣ly Fabrick adjoining to the King's Lodgings, in the Upper Ward. King Hen. VIII. re-edified the great Gate at the Entrance into the Lower Ward. King Edw. VI. began, and Queen Mary perfected the Conveying the Water, from Blackmore-Park in Wingfield Parish, into a Fountain of curious Workmanship erected in the Mid∣••••e Ward, which supplied all the Castle. Queen Eliza∣beth made a Terrace Work on the North side of the

Castle; from whence there is a pleasant Prospect down upon Eaton-bridge, the Thames, and the adjacent Coun∣try. King Charles I. A. D. 1636. built the Gate at the East end of the Terrace, which leads into the Park. And lastly, King Charles II. greatly beautified and re∣pair'd the Fabrick, and furnish'd it with a curious Ar∣mory; and, in fine, every Thing is so fitly disposed and ordered, that they are worthy of the Notice of every nice and curious Traveller.

CAMDEN elegantly describes its Situation in Prose in this manner: From an Hill (says he) that rises with a gentle Ascent, it enjoyeth a most delightful Prospect round about; foreright, in the Front, it ov••rlooketh a Vale, lying out far and wide, garnish••d with Corn Fields, flourishing with Meadows, deck'd with Groves on either side, and watered with the most mild and calm River Thames. Behind it arise Hills every where, neither rough nor over high, attired, as it were with Woods, and even dedicated, as one would say, by Nature, to hunting Game.

And thus Denham's Muse pourtrays it:

Windesor, the next (where Mars with Venus dwells. Beauty with Strength) above the Ualley swells Into my Eye, and doth it self present With such an easy and unforc'd Ascent, That no stupendious Precipice denies Access, no horror turns away our Eyes; But such a Rise as doth at once invite A Pleasure•• and a ••everence from our sight. Thy mighty Masters Emblem, in whole face Sat ••eekness heightned with Majestick Grace; Such seems thy gentle height, made only proud To be the Basis of that pompous Load. Than which a noblet weight no Mountain bears But Atlas only that supports the Spheres.

This Castle is under the Government of a Constable, s^o call'd in the Reign of King John, and has bore that Deno∣mination ever since: The Office is of great Antiquity, Honour and Power, but of small Revenue, for it is partly Military and Civil; as Military he commands the Castle and any Garrison placed therein, and is obliged to defend it against all Enemies whatsoever; all the Prisoners brought hither are committed to his Charge, and is answerable for all that is in the Castle to the King, un∣der whom he is Commander, as a Civil Officer. He is Judge of a Court of Record held there by Prescription, for determining, by way of Common Law, all Pleas between Party and Party, arising within the Precincts of the Forest of Windsor, and Liberties thereof, which compriseth many Towns, and all legal Processes issue out in his Name. He is allowed a Deputy learned in the Law, who is called the Steward of the Court of Record, and is Keeper of the Constable's Seal of Office. This Officer supplies the Constable's Place as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, from whose Judgment the Appeal is by Writ of Error returnable in the King's-Bench, or Common Pleas at Westminster. The Constable is likewise Forester and Warden of the Forest of Wind∣sor, which is an 120 Miles in compass. He hath under him one or more Lieutenants at his Pleasure, and may imprison any Trespasser in Vert and Venison Convict, having a Prison in the Castle for that Purpose, named the Coalhole. He hath the Freedom of using the Sports of the Forest, which is granted to no Person without his or the King's License, and signs all Warrants to kill Deer, (except what the King signs) and is to fell Timber and Wood.

HE that was Chastelain (the French Word for Consta∣ble) in William the Conqueror's Reign was Walter Fitz Other, from whom the Family of the Barons of Windsor are de∣scended, and the Earls of Plimouth, bearing the Sur∣name of Windsor. Temp. Car. II. Prince Rupert was Constable.

WE come next to the Chapel of St. George, which is situate in the Lower Ward or Court of this Castle, and so named by King Ed••. III. shortly after he had found∣ed the College mention'd in the next Section; he having

pulled down the old Chapel erected there by King Henry I. and dedicated to King Edward the Confessor, to raise a more stately Structure in its stead; to bring which Marter to Perfection, in the 24th Year of his Reign, John de Spoulee had the Office of Master of the Stone-Hewers, and had Power to provide Masons, and other Artificers, to whose Care they were entrusted. In Anno 25. Ed. I. John de Dorchester, Sub-Constable of the Castle, was appointed to keep a Controul upon all the Provisions bought for the Works of the Chapel, as well as on the Payments, and all other Affairs relating thereunto. To this Fabrick he erected several Houses adjoining, for the Custos and Canons to reside in; and afterwards King Hen. IV. gave them the void Place in the Castle call'd the Woodhall, nigh the great Hall, for building of Houses and Apartments for the Vicars, Clerks, and Choristers, and the other Ministers, assigned for the Service of the Chapel; but King Edw. IV. ob∣serving the Walls and Foundation of the Chapel sapped and consumed, and esteeming the Fabrick not stately or sp••cious enough, designed another more noble and ex∣cellent in its Room: In order to it Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salisbury, was constituted Master and Survey∣or of the Work, who had Power from the King to re∣move all Impediments, demolished divers of the Offi∣ci••ry Houses, and other irregular Piles and decay'd Walls, and dug up their Foundations, particularly those ancient Buildings on the East side of the Chapel, which extended unto the Walls on the North side of the Castle, where the Towers, viz. C••urey's Tower, and Le Amenery's Tower, and B••rney's Tower, were situated; as also on the South side of the Chapel, unto the Belfry there, exclusively; the Materials whereof he might bestow upon any Build∣ings in th•• Castle, as he thought convenient. How well the B••shop discharged this Office, appears from the Preamble of his Patent, whereby that King conferred o•• him the Chancellorship of the Carter, in which is set forth, That out of meer Love towards the Order, he had given himself the Leisure daily to attend the Advancement and Pro∣gress of this goodly Fabrick.

FROM this Erection of K. Ed. IV. arose the elegant and beauteous Structure now standing, enlarged in Length

at least an Hundred Fathom (tho' it did not arrive to it^s Perfection until the Reign of King Henry VIII.) together with the Dean and Canons Houses on the North side of the Chapel, and those of the Petty Canons raised at the West End, in form of a Fetter-lock (one of King Edward the IVth's Badges) and so vulgarly call'd. Temp. Henry VII. Sir Reginald Bray, Knight of the Garter, be∣came a liberal Benefactor, finishing the Body of the Chapel, and rearing the Middle Chapel on the South thereof, which still retains his Name, and where his Body lies interred, as is manifest by his Arms, Badges, &c. cut in Stone, and by his last Will. Anno 21. Hen. VII. John Hylmer and William Vertu••, Free Ma∣sons, undertook the Vaulting the Roof of the Choir (a curious Piece of Architecture) for 700 l. and finish'd it by Christmas, 1508. Anno 8 Henry VIII. the Rood Loft, and Lanthorn, were erected, with the Contributions raised by the Knights Companions. Near to the East end of this Chapel, was a little Fabrick of Free-Stone, raised by Cardinal Wolsey, call'd the Tomb House, in the Middle whereof he designed to erect a Monument for King Henry VIII. and had almost finished it before he died; but this was demolished, 1646. by command of the Long Parliament; and all the Copper Figures, ex∣ceedingly enriched by Art, carry'd thence. This Place King Charles I. intended to enlarge, for the Interment of his own Royal Body, and those of his Successors; but those villainous Times drawn on, they with much ado afforded him but a mean obscure Place near the first high Place in the Choir of this Chap••l, in the same Vault where the Bodies of King Henry VIII. and his last Queen yet remain.

IN this Chapel, besides many of the Knights Com∣panions, repose the Body of King Hen. VI. removed from Cher••sey Abbey in Surrey, deposited under the Up∣permost Arch at the South side of the Altar, without any Monument or Inscription, and likewise that of King Edw. IV. under a large Stone of Tuch, raised within the opposite Arch, at the North side of the Al∣tar, but without Inscription, having on the outside of his Grave a Range of Steel gilt, to inclose it from the North Isles, cut excellent well in Church-work.

OVER this Arch hung this King's Coat of Mail, co∣ver'd over with Crimson Velvet, and thereon the Arms of England and France quarter'd and richly embroider'd with Pearl and Gold, interwoven with divers Rubies; which Trophy had remain'd over his Monument ever since his Interment, till plunder'd by Captain Fogg, 1642. who at the same time sacrilegiously robb'd the Chapel of all its Altar-Plate.

WITHIN this Chapel were several Chantries en∣dow'd with Lands and other Revenues, for Chaplains and Priests to sing Masses for the Souls of their Foun∣der's Kindred.

William of Wickham, Bishop of Winchester, in 3 Hen. IV. gave Two Hundred Marks to the Dean and Chapter, to buy Twenty Marks per Annum to maintain one Chaplain.

18 Ed. IV. The Feoffees of Richard, Duke of Gloc••∣ster, gave the Mannors of Bentfieldbury in Essex, Knapton in Norfolk, and Chetlesworth in Suffolk for a daily Mass.

22 Ed. IV. Sir Thomas St. Leger founded a Chantry of Two Priests, who were to officiate in the middle Cha∣pel on the North Side of the Church; and the said King, by his Will, ordain'd Two Priests to serve at his Tomb, with an Exhibition of Twenty Marks yearly a-piece.

9 Hen. VII. There was another Chantry Priest assign'd for Thomas Pasche and William Hermer, &c. who was to perform his Office at the Altar on the North Side the new Church.

13 Hen. VII. Margaret, Countess of Richmond, founded a Chantry for Four Chaplains, to celebrate Mass in the East Part of the new Work of the Chapel.

18 Hen. VII. William, Lord Hastings, founded a Chan∣try for One Priest, on the North Side of the Choir, about the middle whereof this Lord lies.

21 Hen. VII. Charles Somerset, Lord Herbert, (afterwards Earl of Worcester) left a Secular Priest for a daily Mass, &c. to be said in the South Chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, where he lies inter••'d. Both these Lords have built Appartments adjoyning for their Chantry Priests, now to be seen and distinguish'd by

their Arms, garter'd and cut in Stone over their seve∣ral Doors.

To these we shall add the Foundation of the new Commons, erected over against the North Door of the Body of St. George's Chapel, by James Denton one of the Canons, Anno 11 Hen. VIII. for the Lodging and Diet∣ing such of the Chantry Priests, Choristers and stipen∣diary Priests, who had before no certain Place where to hold Commons in, which he furnish'd with all proper Utensils, the Charge amounting to 489 l. 7 s. 1 d. in lieu of which the Choristers were to say certain Prayers when they enter'd the Chapel, commemorate his Death, and pray for his and the Souls of all the Faithful de∣parted.

IN this Chapel of St. George there were heretofore several Anniversaries or Obits held and celebrated, which we pass over. And as it was usual for some of the military Profession to spend the Remains of their Lives in pious Speculations, for their King and Coun∣try, and the Salvation of their own Souls, Permission was allow'd to the well-dispos'd Knights of the Garter, who retir'd from the Noise and Bustle of the World, to make their Abode there; yet so as to maintain them∣selves out of their own Revenues. King Henry VIII. ordain'd that the Sovereign should assign them conve∣nient Appartments within the Castle; and the like Fa∣vour he granted to other Knights, tho' not of the Or∣der; but the Lodgings to be such as the Sovereign and Knights Companions should decree: However, we do not find the Knights Companions made use of the Benefit, but only for their better Accommodation at the grand Feast of the Order, &c. A Motion was made, 14 Car. I. that they might have Lodgings assign'd them in the great Court, which they offer'd to repair at their own Charge, since all the Officers had Conveni∣encies in the Castle, but the Knights Companions none, which the King did not dissent to, provided it be without Exclusion of the great Officers of State.

§ 3. WITHIN the Chapel of the Castle, erected by King Henry I. was founded a College for Eight Canons, to be maintain'd by an annual Pension out of the Ex∣chequer. King Edw. II. founded here a Chantry for

Four Chaplains and Two Clerks; as likewise a Cha∣pel in the Park of Windsor, under the same Regulation, for Four more Chaplains, whom King Edw. III. re∣mov'd and joyn'd to those before settled in the Cha∣pel of the Castle, and built Habitations for their bet∣ter Accommodation, on the South Side thereof.

THE Foundation we treated of here was confirm'd by Letters Patent, dated at Westminster, Aug. 6. 22 Edw. III. three Quarters of a Year before he erected The Order of the Garter, when he laid the Foundation of the ancient Chapel a-fresh, in honour of God, the Virgin Mary, St. George and St. Edward the Confessor; and or∣dain'd, that to King Henry's Eight Canons there should be annex'd One Custos, Fifteen more Canons, and Twenty Four Alms-Knights, together with other Mi∣nisters, all under the Power of the Custos, and these to be supported out of the Revenues wherewith this Chapel should be endow'd: Upon which Pope Cle∣ment VI. 1351. by his Bull directed to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Winchester, approved in part the King's Intention.

THE next Year the Statutes and Ordinances of the College commenc'd, by Virtue of the Pope's Authority•• the King's Command, and Consent of the Bishop of Salisbury, in whose Diocess the Chapel is situate. By which Statutes, Winchester (one of the Pope's Delegates) instituted a College, within the Precincts of the Cha∣pel of St. George, consisting of one Custos, Twelve Se∣cular Canons, Thirteen Priests or Vicars, Four Clerks, Six Choristers, and Twenty Six Alms-Knights, besides other Officers.

DEAN.

§ 4. THE first Custos was John de la Chambre, consti∣tuted Nov. 14. 22 Edw. III. to whom succeeded William Mugg•• on the 18th of June following: Which Mugg is the first, if the Institution of the College bears Date by Papal, and not Kingly Authority. After him were others that were call'd by the same Title; till the last Year of King Henry IV. when Thomas Kingston was pre∣sented by the Name of Dean; and his Successor, John Arundel, observing divers Endowments granted to the

College alternately, by the Name of Custos, Dean and Custos, or lastly of Dean only; and doubting this Variation of Titles in Time might bring Inconvenien∣ces upon the Foundation, petition'd the Parliament, 8 Hen. VI. whereupon the King, by Letters Patent un∣der the Great Seal, granted that the said John should be Custos sive Decanus for Life, and his Successors Cusiodes sive Decani, Wardens or Deans of the Free Chapel of St. George, within the Castle of Windsor; and that the Custos, or Dean and Canons thereof, and their Succes∣sors, by that Appellation, should have and hold, to them and their Successors for ever, all Lands, Tene∣ments, &c. Liberties, &c. devolv'd upon the College at any Time before: So that here was a kind of new Incorporation, by the Title of Custos, or Deans and Canons only; at least this was a great Step to com∣pleat the Privilege they after enjoy'd, when thro' the Interest of Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salisbury, then also Dean of Windsor, and Chancellor of the Order, King Edw. IV. by Letters Patent dated Dec. 6. in the 19th Year of his Reign, model'd them by the Name of Dean and Canons of the Free Chapel of St. George within the Castle of Windsor, one Body corporate in Thing and Name, with a perpetual Succession, and ca∣pable in Law to purchase, receive and take Lands, &c. in Fee and Perpetuity; to have a common Seal, and might plead and be impleaded by that Name; and for better Security, the Letters Patent of Incorporation were, within Three Years after, pass'd into an Act of Parliament now in force.

THE Authority of the Custos or Dean consists in being President over the rest of the College; to go∣vern, direct and order them their Goods and Estates. He has all manner of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over them, with a Reservation of Power of Appeal to the Chancellor of England, who is Visitor of that College.

WHEN any Persons lead Lives inordinate, he with the Chapter (in Cases where no particular Penalty is appointed) may reprehend or correct at Discretion; and in Matters of Discord, shall within Eight Days re∣concile the contending Parties, or do Justice. After thrice Admonition, may expel from the College all

Sowers of Discord, Backbiters and Whisperers, that are below the Degree of a Canon. And that there be no defect of Government, when the Dean has Occasion to be absent above Eight Days, he shall appoint One of the Canon Residents for his Deputy, in whose absence he has the Title of Lieutenant, and on all Occasions to exercise his Office; for the Statutes allow him Sixty Days in a Year for Non-residence; which space the Royal Visitation, 1552. enlarg'd to One Hundred and Ten Days; and the Lord Chancellor Hyde granted him Liberty of Six Weeks absence. But in the Vacancy of the Custos, the Chapter has all his Power conferr'd on them; which Chapter ought, within Two Days after the Vacancy made known, elect one of the Resident Canons, under the Title of President, to govern the College until they be provided of another Custos.

CANONS.

THE Canons, by the Letters Patent of the first Ere∣ction, were appointed to be Twenty Four, including the Custos; but upon the Institution of the College by the Bishop of Winton, there was ordain'd, as afore-no∣ted, One Custos, Twelve Secular Canons, and Thir∣teen Priests or Vicars, in all Twenty Six, compleatly the Number of The Knights of the Garter: And for a ful∣ler Distinction between these Canons Secular and the Priests, the first Twelve are, in a Bull of Pope Inno∣cent VIII. nam'd Majores Canonici, the others Minores, or Petty-Canons. To these Twelve Seculars were assign'd so many Prebendships in the Chapel of St. George (as also Stalls in the Choir and Place in the Chapter) to∣gether with that held by the Custos, whence they are frequently styl'd Prebends, and have a sacerdotal Pow∣er; for if they are not in full Orders before they are instal'd, they must, within a Year after they have en∣joy'd their Prebendship, be ordain'd a Priest, or quit the Benefice.

BY the Bull of Pope Cl••ment VI. the Right of pre∣senting the Canons, Priests, Clerks, Alms Knights and other Ministers, were reserv'd to the Founder and his Successors; yet we find the first Canons were presented to the Custos, by the Founders of The Order of the Garter,

viz. the Twenty Five first Knights Companions, every one presenting singularly; yet this was but with the Sovereign's Permission, Pro hac vice; and that none of them should be entitled to it hereafter but the So∣vereign alone. And because it might the more effectu∣ally be observ'd, the Custos was oblig'd upon every Canon's Death, to signify the same to the Sovereign, that he might pitch on One to succeed; which being nominated, he is approved, instituted, and instal'd, by the Custos or Dean, to whom he swears Canonical Obe∣dience, and Observance of the Statutes.

THE principal Duty of these Canons (and of all the other Ministers of the College) is continually to attend upon the Service of God in the Chapel of St. George; and the Statutes run upon each Day's Omission of a Canon Resident, to be mulcted his quotidian Distribu∣tion 12 d. And tho' we find no License of Non-Resi∣dence granted them by their Founder, yet there is mention of Canons Resident and Non-Resident, for whom great Defalcations are appointed to be made, to prevent such Neglects, because the residentiary Canons bear not only the Burden of that Duty belonging to the Chapel, but the Expence of Hospitality and other Works of Charity, occasion'd from their residing at Windsor.

Richard Beauchamp, Bishop of Salisbury, obtain'd Pow∣er from Sextus IV. to make new Statutes, and dispens'd with the old Ones; and in 1478. he gave to the Dean and every Canon Fourteen Days of Non-Residence in every Term, to wit, Fifty Six Days in the Year. By the Visitation, 1552. they obtain'd a Dispensation for Eighty Days; and the Lord Chancellor Hatton yet gave them a further Permission to Two Hundred and Two Days, which the Lord Chancellor Hyde confirm'd; so that there remains One Hundred and Sixty Three Days in the Year, in which the Canons ought to be resident with Hospitality, to be consonant to their Statutes.

THE Canons are particularly oblig'd to pray for the Sovereign, and for the happy Estate of the Order. If any Knight Companion, or other Person, should be∣stow Ten Pounds per Annum, in order to be Partaker of the Prayers appointed for the Benefactors of the

College, his Name was to be inscribed amongst them, and he also prayed for. Which Article, tho' King Hen. V. confirmed, yet with this Restriction, it should not be admitted without the Consent of the Sovereign, or the Knights-Companions of the Order. 4 Edw. VI. some one of them were enjoyned to commemorate the Bene∣factors in a Discourse upon the Tuesday next after the third Sunday in Lent, and on the first Tusedays in June, September and December, and not only to set forth the Munificence of the Founder, and of King Hen. VIII. but of all others, so as to excite their Auditors to an Emula∣tion, in the Increase of Religion, and setting forth of God's Glory.

THE civil Obligations of these Canons are to attend the Sovereign (or his Deputy) and the Knights Com∣panions at their grand Feast, and at the Feasts of the Installation, or when the Sovereign or Knights Compa∣nions shall come to the Chapel of St. George upon a Re∣ligious Account. On those solemn Days, over their Ec∣clessastical Habit they wear a Murrey Mantle, (at this Day a Taffaty Robe, in Fashion like the three inferior Officers of the Order) with the Arms of St. George arched within a Rundle on the Right Shoulder.

PETTY CANONS.

Those now call'd Petty Canons in the Patent of Foun∣dation went undistinguish'd with the Canones Majores: only in the Bull of Pope Clement VI. to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of Winton, for instituting the College, they are called Presbyteri; and by the said Bishop in the very Words of his Statutes, Presbyteri se•• Vicarii, by which last Name they are styl'd at the first Erection of the Garter. Their Number was originally Thirteen, only King Henry the VIIIth's English Sta∣tutes mention Eight petty Canons, besi••es Thirteen Vicars, (but the Latin takes Notice only of Thirteen Priests, some called Canonici Minores, others Vicarii.) Ann. 1. Edw. VI. Twelve Priests were ap••ointed, and named Petty Canons, that is, Four to be added to the Eight mention'd in the Statute of King Henry VIII. Yet in Queen Elizabeth's Ordinances for the continual Charge, the Petty Canons thereby provided for are

Thirteen, agreeable to the ancient Number of Vicars•• but at this Day they are reduced to Seven, and one of them Subchanter.

The Vicars at their Admission are bound to be Priests, at least Deacons, and at the next Ordination they must commence Priests. Their Statutes oblige them to con∣tinual Residence; and if absent from Matins or from the grand Mass, they are amerced 2 d. and for every Canonical Hour, the Mass of the Virgin Mary, or for the Defunct, a Penny: All which Forfeitures were to be deducted out of their Sallary, and divided among those Vicars that duly attend these Duties. But the Statutes 1 Edw. VI. state the Forfeit of Absence from Matins to be one Half-penny, and the like from Pro∣cession, Communion or Even-Song, to be paid to the Poor's Box. And not only they, but all other Mini∣sters of the Chapel, if they leave the College above Twenty Days, without Reasons sufficiently approved of by the Residentiary Canons; or any of the Society that lead a vicious or scandalous Life, after the Fact manifestly proved before the Custos, are to be expelled; but an Absence less than Twenty Days, without Leave granted, is punishable at Discretion.

Each Vicar enjoy'd at first an annual Pension of 8 l. paid after this Manner, viz. every Kalendar Month 8 s. for their Diet, and at the Expiration of every Quarter Day the Surplus was consign'd for other Ne∣cessaries they stood in need of. King Ed. IV. encreased their Pensions to Twenty Marks a-piece; to which Queen Elizabeth (they being then called Petty Canons) advanced 13 s. and 4 d. per Annum to each out of the Lands confirm'd on the College by King Ed. VI. and now their yearly Sallaries are encreas'd to Thirty Pounds. Out of these Petty Canons is elected a Sub∣chanter, (and commonly the same Person is the Dean's Vicar) who has the Cure of Souls, marries and bu∣ries, &c.

CLERKS.

For the Service of the Choir at the Foundation were allotted Four Clerks, one whereof was to be instituted a Deacon, and another a Sub-deacon before their Admission,

and these two were design'd (upon Vacancy) to the Vicars Places. But for the other Two, Institu∣tion into lesser Orders, in which they were to conti∣nue, were sufficient. Each of the Two first sort had Eight Marks per Ann. and the other Two but Six. King Ed. IV. encreas'd their Number to Thirteen, and al∣low'd them 10 l. per Ann. They are mention'd to be Thirteen in Hen. VIII's Statutes. 1 Ed. VI. they were encreas'd to Fifteen; but here appointed to be Lay∣men, wearing Surplices in the Choir, each having the same Allowance. 4 Ed. VI. a Model was proposed to augment the Number of these Fifteen Clerks to Twen∣ty. But in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth they were again reduced to Thirteen, as at this present they re∣main, (one of them as Organist hath a double Clerk's Place, and consequently reckon'd for Two) and an Augmentation to each of 2 l. 13 s. 4 d. three Farthings yearly; which being at first opposed by the Dean and Prebends, they at length (5 Eliz.) consented to allow them 40 s. per Ann. a-piece, not out of the new Lands, but out of other Payments which the Dean and Chapter should otherwise receive; and 1662. they encreased their annual Pensions to 23 l. a-piece. They are obli∣ged to be present in the Choir at Divine Service as well as the Petty Canons, and under the same Forfeitures; nor may they or the Petty Canons go out of Town above Three at once, left the Choir should be left unprovided.

CHOIRISTERS.

For the Service of the Choir were appointed Six Choiristers, and they to be of the Clerical Order at their Admission; to each of which was allow'd Five Marks per Ann. And as the D••acon and Sub-deacon were plac'd in the College only in Addition to the Vicars, and design'd to succeed them in their Vacan∣cies; so also were there Six secular Children, endued with clear tun••able Voices, to succeed the Choiristers, when they perceiv'd a Roughness or Alteration in their Voices. King Ed. IV. encreas'd the Number of Choi∣risters to Thirteen, and allow'd them annually Six Marks a-piece, and which was again confirm'd by King H. VIII's

Statutes. Yet the Injunction of 1 Ed. VI. reduced them to Ten; but Queen Elizabeth establish'd the former Number, and gave in Augmentation among them all of 3 l. 11 s. 8 d. They are now reduced to Eight, and their present Exhibition is 12 s. per Month.

§. 5. The Alms Knights we shall treat of in a three∣fold Estate: 1. Under the Foundation; 2. When dis∣jointed thence by Act of Parliament; and, 3. As esta∣blished anew by Queen Elizabeth.

1. THEN, King Edward III. out of the great Regard he had to military Honour, and those who had bravely behav'd themselves in his Wars, yet after chanced to fall in decay, made a Provision for their Relief and com∣fortable Subsistence in old Age, by providing for them in this his Foundation, and making a Coalition in one joint Body with the Custos and Canons; these he call'd Milites Pauperes, and we Poor or Alms-Knights. The stated Number at first were Twenty Four, equal to the Custos and Canons at the first Erection. But shortly after, up∣on his instituting the Order of the Garter, Two more were added (as there was to the first Canons) to make the compleat Number of the Knights-Companions of that Order, which were Twenty Six, as we find stated at the Ordination of the College by the Bishop of Win∣chester, the Pope's Delegate.

THE Intention of the Founder was for those that were real Objects of Charity, as he describes them, viz. poor Knights, infirm in Body, indigent and decay'd, or as the Statutes of the Garter qualifies them, such as thro' adverse Turns of Fortune were reduced to that Extremity that they had not wherewithal to sustain themselves, to live so genteelly as was suitable for a Military Condition, which for greater Caution was rei∣terated in the Statutes of King Hen. V. King Hen. VIII. and in the Orders of Queen Elizabeth; for it was ex∣press'd, in case any Estate of 20 l. per Annum devolved on them, such Knights were to be discharged the Col∣lege, and they were to proceed to a new Election.

AT the first each Knight-Companion of the Order presented his Alms-Knight, but ever after their Election was to be at the Disposal of the Sovereign. Their Habit

was a Red Mantle, with the Escutcheon of St. George, without any Garter to surround it. Their Exhibition, after their first Election was 12 d. a-piece every Day they were at Service in the Chapel, or resident in the College, besides 40 s. per Annum for other Contin∣gencies, it being the stated Allowance appointed to each of the Canons Residents.

ABOUT the Beginning of King Hen. VI's Reign, their quotidian Distributions and Annual 40 s. had been un∣paid upon the Account of some Dissentions risen between them and the Dean and Canons; but upon Complaint of John Bishop of York, Lord Chancellor of England, and Visitor of the College, 10 Hen. VI. they were re∣dressed, and their Arrears of both discharged, without any Deduction, and likewise obtained this Clause, That if the Treasurer of the College became negligent in future Payments, he should lose his own Quotidians, from the Time of his voluntary Omission, and the same to be divided among the Alms-Knights. Their Duty was to pray for the Sovereign and the Knights Companions, to be every Day present at High Mass, the Masses of the Virgin Mary, at Vespers and Compline, and in default to be mulcted their 12 d. toties quoties, which was to be converted to the Use of the other Alms-Knights, then residing in the Castle of Windsor; notwithstanding which Decree, the Dean did afterwards break in upon them, and disposed of these Forfeitures at his Pleasure, till 2 Rich. II. Adam, Bishop of St. David's, then Chancellor of England, and Visitor of the College, re∣dress'd it, and another Complaint of like Nature being made of the Deans disposing of Donations and other Liberalities of the Knights Companions in wrong of the Alms-Knights, this Chancellor decreed an equal Di∣stribution between the Alms-Knights and Canons, till the King and Council should otherwise determine.

These and other Differences between the Dean and Canons and Alms Knights, grew up to that height, that they became irreconcileable, insomuch as in the Act of Parliament, 22 Edw. IV. for incorporating of the Cu∣stos and Canons, by the Name of Dean and Canons, the Alms-Knights were not only omitted; but this Clause inserted, That the Dean and Canons, and their Successors,

should for ever more be utterly quit and discharged from all manner of Exhibition or Charge of or for any of the said Knights. And this under the Cover, That the King has greatly augmented the Number of the Ministers of the Chapel, that the Revenue was insufficient to main∣tain both them and the Alms-Knights; but in the Dean and Canons Answer to the Knights Petition to repeal this Act, the Cause is alledged, For that some of these Knights used their utmost Endeavours before this Act, to incorporate themselves, and to be exempt from the Obedience and Rule of the Dean and Canons.

AFTER this Act, which struck off their Quotidian Portions and Fees assigned by King Edward's Foundati∣on, how the Alms Knights subsisted we find not; but so soon as King Hen. VII. came to the Crown, they pe∣titioned the King and Parliament for Repeal of the Act, 22 Edw. IV. and alledged it was obtained without their Knowledge, or being called thereunto, which Plea a∣vailed not at all; but on the contrary, the Dean and Canons, some Years after, got an Exemplification there∣of under the great Seal, dated Feb. 4. 18 Hen. VII.

AND it is very evident from King Hen. VIII's Letter to the College, that what they did in this Nature after this Act commenced, was merely upon Courtesie; for he returns them Thanks for a Pension of Twenty Marks conferred upon Peter Narbone, whom he had recom∣mended to an Alms-Knights Place, and Promises to burthen them no more with Requests of this sort, but that he would settle Lands for their Maintenance. So great was their Caution, Narbone was by Covenants in∣dented between him and the Dean and Canons, to re∣linquish his Pension upon that King's settling Lands on the College, for the Provision of such Knights. In the Interval between the Disunion of the College and Alms-Knights, to their Establishment by Queen Elizabeth, their Habit and Badge continued the same, and was so confirmed by Hen. VIII's Statutes. It may be collected by his last Will, there was an Intention to draw the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 about the Escutcheon of St. George, which Pro∣jection came to nothing, and expired. In this Interval it is observ'd that several Persons of considerable Rank and Distinction became Alms••Knights; some of which

were rendred great Objects of Charity; among which Number was Sir Robert Champlayne, a valiant Knight, an Honour to our Nation, for his renowned and martial Serv••ces abroad. He was of King Henry VI's Party in the Civil Wars against King Edw. IV. Immediately after whose coming to the Crown he left England, and travel∣led into Hungary, (with an Equipage of Three Servants and Four Horses) where in the Assistance of Mathou•• Corvinius King of Hungary against the Turks, he beha∣ved himself very gallantly; but prosperous Fortune not always attending him with Success, he receiv'd many Wounds; and at length was taken Prisoner, lost all, and forced to pay 1500 Ducats for his Ransom; for the Attestation of which he had the Great Seals of the King of Hungary, the Archbishop of Crete, Legate de Latere in Hungary, the Emperor of Germany, the King of Sicily, the Count Palatine of the Rhin••, and the Duke of Bur∣gundy; and lastly, a Declaration thereof under the Privy Seal of King Edw. IV. And being reduced to so low an Ebb of Fortun••, he was, thro' Hen. VII's Favour, ad∣mitted an Alms-Knight.

But some obtained Admittance, probably out of De∣votion, rather than Poverty, as Thomas Hulme, Claren∣••••ux King of Arms, Temp. Edw. IV. Lodowick Carly, the King's Physician, and John Mewtes, Secretary of the French Ton••ue, both Temp. Hen. VII. and Bartholomew Westhy made second Baron of the Exchequer, 1 Hen. VIII.

IT is evident King Hen. VIII. designed a R••-esta∣blishment of half the ancient Number of Alms-Knights, viz. Thirteen; for which purpose he appointed by his Will 600 l. per Annum, in Mannors, Lands, and Spiritual Promotions, settled upon the Dean and Canons, and their Successors for ever, upon the Proviso's that they should find Two Priests to say Mass at his Tomb, to commemorate yearly Four Obits for him, and at every Obit distribute 12 l. in Alms, likewise to pay 12 d. a Week to those Thirteen Alms-Knights, who were to have once a Year a long Gown of White Cloth, and a Mantle of Red, b••sides Five Marks annually, to such one among them as should be constituted their Go∣vernor, and so much for a Sermon every Sunday throughout

the Year. In Performance of which Will, King Edw. VI. in the first Year of his Reign, did confer se∣veral Lands upon the College; but 600 l. per Annum of these Rents were by the Dean and Canons paid back, to be employed on erecting of Houses for the Alms-Knights, intended to be settled by King Hen. VIII. This Work began not till the 3d and 4th of Philip and Mary, and was finished the 5th and 6th of their Reign, the Charge amounting to 2747 l. 7 s. 6 d. These Houses are situate on the South side of the Lower Ward of the Castle, and contain Thirteen Rooms, besides an Hall, a Kitchin, and a Pastry; the Stone was brought from Reading, the Timber from the Forest, and the Lead, and Apparels for the Chimnies, from Suffolk Place in Southwark. At a Chapter of the Garter, held the 1st of June, the 4th and 5th of Philip and Mary, the Houses being then near finished, a Debate arose about placing some Alms-Knights therein, if possible, by M••chaelmas following, whereupon the Marquiss of Winton, Lord-Treasurer, had Orders to assign Lands for their Mainte∣nance; and towards the compleating of this the Queen had nominated Nine of the Thirteen designed; but fal∣ling sick in August, a stop was put to the Affair, till Queen Elizabeth coming to the Crown confirmed her Sister's Grants to the Nine nominated Knights, and made up the Number full Thirteen, ordained by King Henry VIII. under which Establishment they still remain; for after∣wards, viz. Aug. 30. in the first Year of her Reign, minding the Continuance of King Edward's Foundation, the Intent of her Progenitors, and Advancement of the Order of the Garter, and King Henry VIII's Will, for the Support of Thirteen poor Men decayed in Wars, to be called Thirteen Knights of Windsor; and having erect∣ed certain Orders for their better Regulation, and de∣clar'd how and in what manner the 600 l. given by her Father should be employ'd for the Maintenance of these Knights and their Successors, she lastly decl••red, That the Dean and Canons should for ever cause these Rules and Orders to be observed.

Impr. That there be Thirteen Poor Knights, all Gen∣tlemen, one whereof to be Governour, that have spent their Time in the Wars, or other Service of the Realm,

having little or nothing to live upon, to be elected by the Sovereign and Successors.

2. It. The Governour and Knights must be unmar∣ried, yet that the Crown may dispence withal; and upon their marrying are to lose their Place.

3. It. None deformed, and convicted of Heresie, Felony, or any notable Crime, is to be admitted of the Thirteen, and after admittance, so convicted, to be expelled.

4. It. Each Knight to have yearly, for their Liveries, a Red Gown of Four Yards, and a Mantle of Blue or Purple of Five Yards, at 6 s. and 8 d. per Yard.

5. It. An Escutcheon of St. George embroidered with∣out the Garter, to be upon the Left Shoulder of the Mantle.

6. It. The Charges of the Cloth, Lining, Making, and Embroidering, to be paid by the Dean and Chapter, out of the Revenue of the Foundation.

7. It. That the Knights attend, Morning and After∣noon, Divine Service, within the College, in their or∣dinary Apparel, without a reasonable Let to be allowed by the Governour.

8. It. That they keep their Lodgings appointed, and Table in a common Hall appointed, and to have their Provisions by a c mmon Purse, except for a reasonable Cause any be licensed to the contrary by the Dean, and that License not to endure above Twenty Days in a Year, excepting only for Sickness.

9. It. They are not to haunt the Town, nor Publick Houses, nor call any Woman into their Lodgings, with∣out reasonable Cause and License of the Dean.

10. It. Twelve of them to be obedient to him ap∣pointed to be Governour, and all Thirteen to the D••an and Chapter, in the Observation of these Statutes.

11. It. The Thirteen Knights to have Places within the Church, where the Dean and Canons shall think best to hear the Divine Service together.

12. It. To be present at the quarterly Service, for the Memory of the Patrons and Founder of the College, and especially of King Hen. VIII. and Queen Elizabeth, and have each of them, at that Time, 20 d. and the Governour 2 s. The said Service to be the Sundays next

before the Quarter-days, the Annunciation, St. John Bap¦tist, Michaelmas, and Christmas.

13. It. Any of the Twelve Knights disobeying the Governour, in any of these Statutes, to incur the For∣feiture the Dean and Chapter shall put on him, the Go∣vernour to report the Offence, which if more heinous, the Dean and Chapter are to give a Warning, and regi∣ster the same, and after a second Warning Expulsion is to follow; the like Punishment to the Governour, diso∣beying the Dean and Chapter in the Observation of these Statutes.

14. It. The Penalties of the Punished to be imployed by the Dean and Chapter at their Discretion, upon any of the Ministers or Choristers of the Church.

15. It. Upon the King or Queen's coming to or go∣ing from Windsor, the Thirteen Knights are to stand before their Doors in their Apparel, and do Obedi∣ence.

16. It. At the keeping of the Feast of St. George, they are to stand likewise in their Apparel before their Doors, at the coming and going out of the Lieutenant, and of other the Knights-Companions.

17. It. At every Feast of St. George thèy shall sit toge∣ther in their Apparel at one Table, and have Allow∣ance of Meat and Drink at the Royal Charges.

18. It. They are daily in their Prayers to pray for the Sovereign and the Knights-Companions.

19. It. They are always to lie in their Lodging, and upon lying out of them and the College, without Li∣cense from the Dean, to forfeit 12 d.

20. It. If Lands or Revenues of 20 l. per Annum fall to any of the poor Knights, he is to be removed, and another put into his Place.

21. It. They are every Day (excepting Cause of Sick∣ness) to be present at Divine Service in the College, as afor••said, and receive a daily Distribution of 12 d. per Day, to be paid them monthly, if it may be, or at least in such sort as the other Ministers of the Chapel be paid; and he that shall absent himself one Day, with∣out leave from the Dean, shall lose his Distribution of 12 d.

22. It. The Governour is to keep a Book, and register, the Absenters, and other Defaulters of the Statutes, whereof he shall deliver one to the Dean, and another to the Steward, or him that payeth the poor Knights, who by Order of the Dean is to make proper Defalca∣tions at the Time of paying them.

23. It. The Dean once a Year is to appoint a Day and Hour, at which the poor Knights are to be warned to be present, to hear these Statutes read, and any Knight absenting after that Warning, and without License, is to forfeit 6 s. 8 d.

24. It. Any elected poor Knight, before he take any Commodity of his Room, shall take a corporal Oath be∣fore the Dean, to be faithful and true to the Crown, and that for the time of their tarrying there to truly observe the Statutes and Ordinances upon the Penalties contain••d in the said Statutes.

THE 25th Article is a Dispensation for those poor Knights chosen before these Statutes, who were not cer∣tainly known Gentlemen, yet Men well reported for Honesty, and meet to be relieved; but with an Intent that none hereafter be admitted, unless a Gentleman born, agreeable to the first Order.

The annual Allowance of each, upon this new Esta∣blishment, is 18 l. 5 s. to be paid by the Dean of Wind∣sor, (but their Governour has 3 l. 6 s. and 8 d. more) besides their Gown and Mantle men••ioned in their Sta∣tutes. King James I. doubled this Pension, and made it payable out of the Exchequer quarterly.

TO these Thirteen Alms-Knights, temp. Car. I. Five more were added, Two of the Foundation of Sir Peter la Maire, Knight, and Three of Sir Francis Crane, Knight, Chancellor of the Garter; for Sir Peter, by his last Will, dated Jan. 8. 1631. bequeath'd 1500 l. to charitable Uses, to be dispos'd as Sir Francis (who had marry'd his Sister) should think ••it, within Four Years after his Death; whereupon Sir Francis, determining to er••ct certain Houses in Windsor-Castle, for the dwelling of Five Alms-Knights, design'd the said 1500 l. towards that Use, and what was deficient made up at his own Cost, charging his Brother Executor, Sir Richard Crane, by his Will, dated Aug. 27. 1635. to see the Pile which

he had began, finish'd. Sir Francis also bequeath'd 200 l. per Annum to be settled in Lands, by his E••ecu ors, for the perpetual Maintenance of Five Alms-Knights, after the rate of 40 l. per Ann••m to every one of them; but his Executor growing slack in the Performance, the Work being rather expos'd to Ruin, than forwarded by him; upon Complaints made to the Sovereign and Knights-Companions in Chapter, Orders were islu'd out to quicken him, and a peremptory Letter, dated Mar. 7. 1639. to go on with the Work faithfully; which Commands he evading, and bad Times coming on, the Building was totally negiected. Sir Rich••rd Crane afterwards dying, by his Will, dated Sept. 20. 1645. he appointed that his Mannor of Carbrooke in Norfolk, should stand bound for ever for Payment of the said 200 l. per Annum; whereupon, by Inquisition taken at Wi••dsor, Mar. 4. 1652. (by Virtue of a Commission upon the Statute Anno 43 Eliz. for charitable Uses) the Mannors of Woodrising and Wesfield, &c. in Norfolk, were found liable to satisfie for building and finishing the said Five Houses, and payment of the 200 l. yearly; and further, that the Arrears thereof, from Sir Fran••••s Crane's Death, came at that time to 3200 l. some Contest ensu'd in Chancery; nevertheless the 200 l. per Annum was, Ju••y 19. 1655. decreed to be paid out of all the Lands which were Sir Richard's, and the building of the Houses out of his personal Estate. At Two Years Ex∣piration arose that fair Pile of Building, between the Chancellor's and Garter's Towers, against the West Wall, in the lower Ward of the Castle, which was be∣gun again and finish'd the next Year; the Expences amounting to 1700 l. But for a final End of this Suit, it was decreed, Jan. 27. 1659. the Mannor of Carbrooke should stand charg'd with 200 l. per Annum, payable half-yearly at Michaelmas and Lady-day, or within Thir∣ty Days after, for the Maintenance of Five Alms Knights, together with 30 l. yearly for Repairs, payable also then; which annual Sum of 230 l. Anno 12 Ca••. II. in a Chapter held at Whitehall, Jan. 14. the King decreed the Chancellor of the Order, for the Time being, should receive and dispose thereof thus: 200 l. per Annum among the Five new Alms-Knights quarterly, at

the Four usual Feasts of the Year, and to employ the residue upon Repair of the new Buildings erected for their Lodgings; which Powers were inserted in the Patent for his Office, bearing date the 20th of the same Month. And it was moreover decreed, that these Five Knights should be subject to the same Rules and Go∣vernment of the Thirteen of Queen Elizabeth's Foun∣dation, and made equal Partakers of the same Privi∣leges, and wear the like Habits.

KING Charles I. taking into Consideration the Dona∣tion of Sir Francis Crane, which made the Alms-Knights Eighteen, (tho' they were not yet settled) intended to make up Twenty Six, as they were at the Institution of the Order; to compleat which Design, a Chapter was held at Whitehall, Apr. 18. 1637. for the Knights-Com∣panions to consider the best Way how the same might be effected, and report their Opinions; but nothing was done thereupon, and this Affair waits a more pro∣pitious Opportunity.

§ 6. THE other Ministers of the College and Chapel of St. George, call'd Ministers in the Foundation Patent, are the superior Officers, viz. The Chantor, Steward and Treasurer.

THE Chantor is elected from among the Canons, whose Office is chiefly to govern those that sing in the Choir, and such as are employ'd about Divine Service. Before the Reformation he appointed who should be∣gin the Antiphones, celebrate Masses, and read the Les∣sons, Epistles and Gospels. To his Care was commit∣ted all the Books, Crosses, Chalices, Vestments, and all the Sacred Ornaments of the Chapel. He receives the Offerings there made, and Accounts for them; for all which Services an annual Pension of 5 l. is allow'd him.

THE Steward and Treasurer are annually chosen on the Morrow after Michaelmas-day from out of the Canons Resident. To the Steward's Office appertains the Go∣vernment of all the Revenues of the College, the Rents and Profits whereof he is to pay the Treasurer. In his Custody are repos'd all the O••naments, Jewels, and o∣ther Treasure of the Chapel, not committed to the

Chantor, under the Obligation of rendring an Account; and his yearly Pension is 5 l.

THE Treasurer is to distribute to the Custos, Ca∣nons, Vicars, &c. their Pensions and Allowances, which if he fail Eight Days after their prefix'd Times of Payment, he is debar'd of his own quotidians, as Ca∣non Resident, until such Arrears be discharg'd; as like∣wise the Steward, if he be found delinquent. His Pension is also 5 l. per Annum. There is one Treasurer to receive the Rents of the old Lands, and another cho∣sen from the Canons to receive the new, who have been allow'd the like annual Pensions. The former is term'd Seneschallus veteris, the latter Seneschallus novae Do∣tationis.

MOREOVER, there is a Steward of the Courts, and Clerk of the Lands, which is an Officer under both the before-mention'd Stewards. He keeps the Courts by himself or Deputy, and is a Barrester at Law, and the standing Council for the College. His yearly Pen∣sion is 20 Nobles. But the Council in Spiritualibus is usually a Graduate in the Law.

THE Chapter-Clerk enters and registers all Acts of the Chapter-House; he draws and engrosses all Inden∣tures, Patents, Grants, Leases, &c. which pass the com∣mon Seal of the Dean and Canons. His Pension is 3 l. 6 s. 8 d. per Annum. The Under Stewardship and Chapter Clerkship heretofore were enjoy'd by one Person, but of late they are divided, and now he must be a Bar∣rester at Law.

OF the Virgers Institution the Statutes of the College make mention, that in Procession and other Solemni∣ties, they were to go before the Dean and Canons, bearing their Rods, for which Service they were to have annually a Robe, and 6 d. per Diem. And besides these, there are Two Sextons, Two Bell-ringers, a Clock∣keeper, and a Porter who attends the shutting and open∣ing of the Gates.

§ 7. FOR the Endowment of the College we shall only treat upon those Lands given to the Maintenance of this Foundation by the Founder himself, or by his

••uccessors, or by Sovereigns of The Order of the Garter, ••uch as have been Knights-Companions.

KING Edw. III. by his Letters Patent of the Founda∣tion [22 Edw. III.] aforesaid, gave them [the Custos, Canons, Alms-Knights and Ministers] the Advowsons of the Churches of Wyardesbury [Rasbury] in Lincoln, South-Tanton in Exeter, and Uttoxater in Coventry and Litchfield Diocess, in Frank Almoigne, free from all Se∣cular Exactions; which License, to appropriate the same to the College, notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain, he appointed as much out of his Treasure for their Support, as amounted to an immoveable Estate of 1000 l. per Annum; and lest there might be any De∣fect in the Knights Title to Uttoxater and South-Tanton, Henry Earl of Lancaster, 23 Edw. III. and Thomas Beau∣champ Earl of Warwick, that Year had special Licenses granted them in Right of Patronage to the said Two Ad∣vowsons, and they to receive the same. Another such License, 28th of January, 24 Edw. III. was given to William de Bohun Earl of Northampton, for assigning to the Custos and Chaplains the Advowson of Dodyngton in Com. Oxon, which he held of the King in Capite. The 28th of January following, this Royal Founder conferr'd on them (by the Name of Custos and Chaplains of his free Chapel at Windsor) one Messuage, Seventeen Acres of Land, one of Pasture, and 3 s. Rent, in Wyrardesbury in Com. Bucks, which had been convey'd to him by Ri∣chard de Gloucester, Heir to Isabel de Ditton; and the 22d of May ensuing granted unto them the Advowson of Dachet near Windsor.

Anno 25 Edw. III. the King gave them the Advow∣sons of the Churches of Eure in Com. Bucks, of Riston in Com. Norsolk, and of Whaddon and Caxton in Com. Can∣tab. and in May that Year the Advowson of Simondes∣bourne (surrender'd temp. Edw. IV. to Richard Duke of Gloucester) and of St. Stephens of Saltash. The first of these Queen Philippa purchas'd of Sir John Darcy, and the other of Edward the Black Prince; and gave them both, first to the King, that by his Grant afterwards to the College its Title might be more corroborated. The same Year, October 26. the King bestow'd on them 100 Marks per Annum, out of the Farm of the Town

of Northampton, to be paid by the Bailiff of the Town at Easter and Michaelmas by equal Allotments: And it was at the Founder's Instance (therefore worthy to be inserted) that the Town of Yarmouth, 26 Edw. III. un∣der their Common Seal, granted them a Last of Red Herrings yearly, well dry'd and cleans'd, to take the Corporation into their Prayers; tho' some say it was a Penance enjoyn'd them for murdering a Magistrate.

IN the 26 Edw. III. the Founder granted them and their Successors the Mannor of Eure near Weybrigg, in Com. Bucks, the Mannor of Craswell in Bray in Com. Berks, and a Wear call'd Braybrook, situated in the Thames, with all the Lands in that Parish convey'd unto him by Sir John Philibert, together with the Knights Fees, Advowsons, &c. belonging to those Mannors. He gave to the Custos and College soon after the Seisin thereof, as also of a Wood call'd Temple-Wood in Stoke-Pogeys, convey'd to the King by John de Molyns: But deeming all the Lands too small for the End he in∣tended, 28 Edw. III. the King granted the Custos and College, by Letters Patent, a Pension of 100 l. per An∣num out of the Exchequer; and upon the vacating the same, 34 Edw. III. he gave them yearly Lands of 101 l. 11 s. 11 d. out of the Possessions of religious Aliens, which fell into his Hands by Occasion of the French Wars: But lest these Possessions should be again re∣stor'd upon a Treaty of Peace, they were to receive the annual Sum of 101 l. 11 s. 11 d. out of the Ex∣chequer, till they were provided of Lands of the like Value. Upon several Restrictions, he granted them 51 l. 9 s. 9 d. yearly to be receiv'd out of 126 l. which the Prior of Takkele paid him for the Farm of that Pri∣ory, it being then in the King's Hand by reason of the War with France. And by reason the Revenues did not amount to 1000 l. per Annum, as he design'd at the Foundation, in the 35th Year of his Reign, he granted them so much Money yearly out of the Ex∣chequer, as would make up the Deficiency, till Lands or Rents of that Value should be settled on them. Lastly, 39 Edw. III. the Founder bestow'd on them a Piece of Ground in New Windsor, (whereon had stood an House of John of London) in lieu of the great Garden

South of the Castle, formerly given them by him; and also a Garden opposite thereunto on the other side of the Way. Besides these Largesses of the Founders, there were others made by pious and devout Persons, said to be incorporated into the first Foundation, and made up that Revenue which William Bishop of Win∣chester adjudg'd sufficient for the Support of the Col∣lege, which we shall silently pass over with the bare mention only.

THE Mannor of Dodyngton-Castle; two Pastures call'd Frith and Ashcroft; the Chapel of Langeley; the Parso∣nages of Estriton, Langeley-Maries, Wantynge, Shaldeborne, Wedonbeek, Glynde and Ryslepe; the Pensions of the Vi∣carages of Wantynge, Clyffe, Tylthey and Gottesford; and the Portions of Bassyngborne and Prestwyke, in Haseley magna, Chalgrave, Adewelle, Aston, Rowhand, Sevyndon, Kyngeston and Henton, in Stoke-Basset, and Clopecote in Gatehampton; Whytechyrche, Maplederham, Retherfeld, E∣sthenreth Stretham; of Thornecroft in Letherhed; of To∣tynbeek in Wodesdon; Evington, Woodmershthorne; of Fordham, Ethrope, Newenham, and in Tollesworth.

IN succeeding Times other considerable Donations were made by the Sovereigns and Knights Compa∣nions (omitting others.) Some of which, as they fall in our way, we shall speak of.

13 Rich. II. that King gave them a Croft in North∣molton, with the Advowson of that Church.

9 Hen. V. John, Duke of Bedford, third Son to King Hen. IV. conferr'd on them the Priory of Okeborne in Wilts (a Cell to Bec in Normandy) with all its Appurte∣nances: Which Donation was confirm'd by King Hen. V. and afterwards by King Edw. IV.

7 Edw. IV. that King, who had a singular Respect for the College, conferr'd on them the Mannor of Atherston in Com. Warwick, the Mannors and Advowsons of Chesingbury in Wilts, and of Quarle in Hantshre; the Church and Priorate of Uphaven, and the Deanry or Chapel of St. Burien in Cornwall, with an Addition of an annual Pension, which the Abbot of Sautrie discharg'd for the Church of Fulburne, to the Abbey de bona Requ••••, and another yearly Income of 20 l. paid by the Abbot of Rousford for the Mediety of the Church of Rotheram.

13 Edw. IV. he consign'd to them the Mannor or Priorate of Munclane, in Com. Hereford.

14 Edw. IV. he gave unto them the Custody, Patro∣nage, and free Disposition of the Hospital or Free Cha∣pel of St. Anthony, London, (a Preceptory to St. Anthony of Vienna, with all the Liberties, Privileges, Lands, &c.) upon the first Vacancy. The same Year he endow'd them with the Priorate of Brimsfield in Com. Gloucest. the Mannor of Blakenham in Suffolk; the Priorate of St. Elene in the Isle of Wight; the Priorate or Mannor of Charle∣ton in Wilts; and all the Lands, &c. in Northmundon, Compton and Wel••igh in Sussex and Southampton; the Man∣nor of Ponyngton and W••don in Dorset, together with an annual Pension of 12 Marks, payable by the Priory of Monte acuto, with all the Lands, Tenements, Rents, Advowsons, &c. annex'd to the said Priorates and Mannors. The same Year he bestow'd on them the Mannor of Membury in Com. Dorset; the Lordships of Preston and Monkesilver in Com. Somerset; the Advowsons of Puryton and Wollavington in that County, together with the Knights Fees, Advowsons, Profits, Righrs, &c.

18 Edw. IV. his Feoffees, the Queen, the Arch-Bi∣shop of York, and others seised to the Use of the King, demis'd to them the Mannor of Wykecombe, call'd Bas∣setsbury, the Fee-Farm of the Town of Great Wykecombe, the Mannor of Crendon in Com. Bucks, and the Mannors of Haseley and Pyrton in Com. Oxon: And that Year the King gave unto them the Advowson of the Church of Cheshunt, being of his own Patronage, provided the Vica∣rige was sufficiently endow'd, and a compleat Sum of Money annually distributed among the poor Parishi∣oners, according to the Diocesan's Ordinance. To these he united the Custody or Deanry of the Free Chapel of Wolverhampton in Com. Staff. to the Custos or Dean of this College, and his Successors for ever; which Church, cum membris, is exempt from not only the Ju∣risdiction, &c. of the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, but by a Papal Bull from all Legates and Delegates; nor is it subject to any terrene Power, but the King of England alone, and under it to the perpetual Visitation of the Keepers of the Great Seal, pro tempore.

20 Edw. IV. he resign'd to them the Advowson o•• Patronage of the Prebend of Ewern in Com. Dorset, wit•• all its Rights and Privileges: And lastly, in the 21•• Year of his Reign, he granted them Two Parts of th•• Mannors of Old Swynford and Gannow, in Com. ••ygorn•• and the Reversion of the Third Part of them, with the Advowson of the Church of Old Swynford; nor was he thus munificent alone, but excited and spurr'd on others to the like Example, licensing, in the first Year of his Reign, all his Subjects to confer what they pleas'd to the Dean and Canons, within the Value of 300 Marks per Annum, as well such as held of him i•• Capite or otherwise, notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain; and afterwards increas'd this License to Lands of 500 l. per Annum Value, (which King Hen. VIII•• extended to 1000 l.) Hereupon, Anno 20 Edw. IV. John, Duke of Suffolk, and Elizabeth his Wife, the King's Sister, were permitted to assign to them the Mannor or Lordship of Grovebury, otherwise call'd Leighton Bus••rd, in Com. Bedford, the Church of Tintagell in Cornwall, as also Nineteen Messuages, Seven Tofts, One Hundred and Forty Acres of Land, Fourteen of Meadow, One Hundred and Forty of Pasture, One Hundred of Wood, and Four Shillings Rent in Newford and Blanford, in Com•• Dorset, and Seventy Messuages, Twelve Tofts, Five Hun∣dred Acres of Land, One Hundred of Meadow, Two Hundred of Pasture, Forty of Wood, and Twenty Shillings Rent, in Stokeley, Northall, Ed••lesburgh and Rodenach, in Com. Bucks, and Twenty Messuages, Eight Tofts, Three Hundred Acres of Land, Sixty of Mea∣dow, Two Hundred of Pasture, Forty of Wood, and Twenty Shillings Rent, in Compton St. John, in Com•• Sussex, and Ten Messuages, Nine Tofts, Two Hundred Acres of Land, Twenty of Meadow, One Hundred o•• Pasture, Ten of Wood, and Twenty Shillings Rent, in Portsmouth and Burghegge, in Hampshir••, and One Mes∣suage, Three Tofts, Sixty Acres of Land, Six of Mea∣dow, Forty of Pasture, and Twenty Shillings Rent, in Stodeham, in Com. Hertford, held of the King in Cap•••••• without any Restriction whatsoever, for which the Duke and Dutchess were to be had in the perpetu••l Orisons of the Dean and Cano••s. The same Ye••r

Sir Walter Devoreux de Feners, Knight, together with Sir John Devoreux and others his Feofees, made over to them the Mannor, Church, and perpetual Advowsons of Sutton Courtney in Com. Berks.

All the before-mentioned Endowments are called the Lands of the old Dotation, to distinguish them from those confirmed on the College by King Edw. VI. which are term'd the Lands of the new Dotation; of which hereafter. But several of them given by King Edw. IV. the College never possessed, viz. Atherston, Quarle, Up∣haven, St. Burien, Fulburne Pension, Brimfi••ld, St. Elen, Charleton, Blakenham, Ponyngton, Wedon, Old Suynford, and Gannow, and of some others they were seized but a short time, viz. Chesingbury, the Lands in Newford, Blandford, and Portsmouth. Besides these, the College was dispossess'd of Gottesford, temp. Hen. VI. of Cheshunt, temp. Hen. VII. temp. Hen. VIII. or a little before of Wodemershthorn, Tylthey, Retherfeld, Levyngdon, Stoke-Basset, Stretham, Totingbeek, Fordham, Elthorp, New∣enham, and Tollesworth; afterwards they surrendred in∣to the Hands of King H••n. VIII. Eure, Clyff, Ashton, Rowhand, Kingston, Esthenreth, Northmundon, Compton, Weleg, Compton St. John, and Shobingdon Portion; and up∣on the Reformation the College lost at least 1000 Marks per Annum, in the Profit made by St. Anthony's Piggs, which the Appropriation of the Hospital of St. Anthony's London brought to it, and no less then 500 per Annum, the Offerings of Sir John Shorne's Shrine at Northmarston in Com. Bucks, a Man of great Piety and Veneration with the People, and sometime Rector there. The Advowson of this Church was appropriated to the Dean and Canons, by the Convent of Dunstaple, temp. Edw. IV. in exchange for Wedenbeck in Com. Bedford.

THE Dean and Canons having convey'd unto K. H. VIII. the Mannor and Rectory of Ivor in Bucks, the Mannor of Dammery-Court in Dorset, and other Lands, Rents, Portions, and Pensions in the Counties of Somerset, Hants, Middlesex, Oxford, and Sussex, to the yearly Value of 160 l. 2 s. 4. d. for which they had no Recompence in his Life, that King, by his last Will, ordered them ••n Equivalent upon the Commutation and Agreement of an Exchange; which Will, King Edw. VI. his Son

and Successor performed, as well for the Assurance of Lands, to the yearly Value of 600 l. to the Dean and Canons for ever, to the Uses in the Will, as for the As∣surance of other Lands, of the annual Value of the said 160 l. 2 s. and 4 d. wherefore by Letters Patent, dated the 7th of October, in the First Year of his Reign, he granted them the Rectories of Bradnynche, Northam, Iplepen, Ilsington, and Southmolton in Com. Devon, the Tithe of Corn of Otery, in that County, as also Blossoms-Inn in St. Laur••nce-lane, London, the Tithes of Grain, &c. of the Rectory of Ambrosbury, in Wilts, and all the Tithes of Bedwyn, Stoke, Wilton, Harden, Harden-Tunrige, Knoll, Pathall, Chisbury, East-Grafton, West-Grafton, Grafton-Martin, and Wexcomb, the Prebend of Alcannyngs and Urchefounte, the Rectories of Urchefounte, Stapleford, Tytcombe, and Froxfeild, all in Com. Wilts, and all the annual Pension of 8 l. issuing out of the Manner of Icombe in Com. Gloucester, the Rectory and Vicarige of Ikelington in Cambridgeshire, the Rectory of East-Beckworth in Surrey, the Reversion of the Portion of Tithes of Trequite in Cornwall, and the Rent of 13 s. 4 d. reserved upon the same, the Rectory and Church of Plympton, and the Chapels of Plymstoke, Wembury, Shagh, Sandford-Spone, Plympton, St. Maurice and Brixton, in Com. Devon, the Rectory of Isleworth and Farickenham in Com. Middle∣sex, and Shiplake in Com. Oxon, the Reversion of the Rectory of Aberguille, and of the Chapels of Llanlawet [Llanbadock] and Llanpenysaunt, with the Rent of 30 reserved thereon, the Reversions of the Rectory of Talgarth, with the reserved Rent of 11 l. 6 s. 8 d. the Reversion of the Rectory of Mara in Com. Brecknock, and 6 l. Rent, and that of St. Germains in Cornwall, with 61 l. 13 s. and 4 d. Rent, to have and to hold, &c. for ever, except the Tithes of Woolpat and Fitzwaren in Wilts, the Vicarige-House of Ikelington, Marriage-Money, Dirge-Money, and Mass-Money, and the whole Profit of the Bedrolls of Ikelington; nevertheless to pay the Crown in the Court of Augmentation, for the Rectories of Aber∣guille, Talgarth and Mara, the Chapels Llanbadock and Llanpenysaunt 4 l. 2 d. 8 d. in the Name of Tenths, and for all Rents, Services, &c. of the other Rectories, &c. 48 l. 7 s. 4 d. annually at Michaelmas. Moreover, within

all these Premises, the King granted them Court Leets, or Views of Frankpledge, and to levy Fines, Amercia∣ments, Free Warrens, Waifs, and Felons Goods, and all other Profits, &c. whatsoever, and the said Rectories, Tithes, Pensions, Rents, and all other Gifts and Grants in the Possession of the Dean and Chapter, were confirmed to them by Act of Parliament, 2 Jac. I.

THE ancient Rate of these New Lands in the King's Books was 661 l. 6 s. and 8 d. per Annum; but accord∣ing to the improved Rents, as they were then turned over to the College, 812 l. 12. 9 d. out of which 160 l. 2 s. 4 d. was yearly allowed them in Requital of their Lands passed to King Hen. VIII. and 600 l. per An∣num, for accomplishment of his Will; but the remain∣ing Sum, viz. 52 l. 10 s. 5 d. was reserved in lieu of Tenths, to be paid into the Court of Augmentation; ne∣vertheless, this last reserved Sum was not assented un∣to by the Dean and Canons to be so paid, because the Charges issuing out of the Lands were larger than were expressed in the Rental. And we find that, shortly af∣ter, the Rents of St. Germains, Northam, Ilsington, &c. part of the New Lands, were received and accounted for, according to the old Rate in the King's Books, to wit, 162 l. 13 s. 4 d. per Annum, in Recompence for the Lands conveyed to King Hen. VIII. and out of which they paid a yearly Surplusage of 2 l. 2 s. 1 d. This Sum, together with the Rents of the rest of the New Lands, being upon the said Improvement accounted to be 597 l. 17 s. 11 d. made in all 600 l. per Annum; and this was laid out by the Dean and Canons for some time towards erecting the Alms-Knights Apartments.

THUS stood the Lands accounted for till the Settle∣ment made by Queen Elizabeth, who in the First Year of her Reign appointed the Dean and Canons to con∣vert the Rents of these New Lands to such Uses and Intents as she had set down in a Book signed with her Sign manual, and annexed to an Indenture made be∣tween her and the Dean and Canons; by which Inden∣ture they were obliged to apply the Rents and Profits of these Lands, as was prescribed in the Book, and to ob∣serve the Ordinances therein, and upon Default, to abide

such Orders as the Crown, or any Knight-Com∣panion, deputed by the Sovereign, shall set forth.

	l.	s.	d.
In this Book the Total of the Revenue reckon'd at the ancient Value	661	06	08
The Annual Charge and Disbursements therein set down	430	19	06
And so Remains	230	07	02

Which Remainder has been and is assigned for Payment of Tenths to the Crown, Vicars, Curates, Annual Sti∣pends, Officers Fees, Reparation of the Premisses, and for the Relief of the Dean and Canons, in Main∣tenance and Defence of the said Lands.

AND to the End the Queen might know how the Re∣venue was disposed of, she gave charge that her Lieute∣nant and the Knights-Companions should annually (at the Feast of the Order held at Windsor) state the Ac∣compt, and see how the Income was expended, and that her Lieutenant should yearly be put in mind of it by one of the Officers of the Order. This Ordinance was renewed, 21 Jac. I. and the Chancellor of the Order was appointed to be the Remembrancer, and in Obedi∣ence thereunto, the Account of these new Lands (which begins at Lady-Day, as that of the old Lands doth at Mi••haelmas) was afterwards exhibited in Chapter, and in particular that Account, 9 Car I. which was submit∣ted to the Sovereign and Knights-Companion's Consi∣deration, who referred the Inspection thereof to the Knights-Commissaries, who were to consult over the Affairs of the Order.

§. 8. THE Privileges of the Chapel and College are Ecclesiastical and Temporal: As to the first, Pope Cle∣m••nt VI. exempted the Chapel, College, Canons, Priests, Clerks, Alms-Knights and Officers, from all ordinary Jurisdiction of Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons, and all Judges and Officers, and received them within the Protection of the Papal-See; and granted a farther Privilege, That the Custos should have Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over the Canons, Priests, &c. as also the Cure of their Soul••, notwithstanding any Papal Constitution

Provincial, or Synodical, yet allowing that the Custos should receive that Cure from the Diocesan of the Place. In Consideration of this Exemption, the Custos was to pay annually, on St. George's Day, a Mark in Sil∣ver, to the Pope's Chamber. Two Years preceding, the Chapel was called the King's Free Chapel, which Title it still enjoys; for it owes S••bjection to none but the Sovereign of England, the Supream of the Church, as heretofore it stood divided between the King and See of Rome. The Privilege of Exemption included in the Confirmation of Liberties, made by the Founder in his Charter, dated Anno Regni sui 47. and all other E∣moluments granted by him, are confirmed by Act of Parliament, 8 Hen. VI. As the College has its sole De∣pendance on the Crown, it is visitable only by the Lord-Chancellor, whose Visitations and Power are re∣served to him by the Statutes of the College, and him∣self called in the King's Commission for Visitation, 2 Rich. II. Governor of the said Chapel, as well in Spi∣rituals as Temporals, and, under the King, immediate Custos. And so jealous were the Dean and Canons, left the Power of the said Exemption should be infringed, that when Sixtus IV. had granted the Bishop of Salis∣bury, and themselves, to make new and interpret the ancient Statutes, they soon obtained •• Revocation of that Authority, left the said Bishop (in whose Diocess the College is situate) being so unpowered, might by Degrees bring them under his Jurisdicton, in prejudice to their Exemption. And, A. D. 1485. to prevent ••uch design, the Archbishop of Canterbury, &c. were commission'd to see the Bull revoked, and Salisbury en∣joyned not to intermeddle further in the College Affairs. Moreover other Bishops, and the Chancellor of England, were to r••new, alter, or new make such Statutes as might accrue to the Advantage of the College.

IF the Archbishop of Cant••rbury be present in the Chapel, he sits below the Dean, nor can he consecrate there, without his License. And this is very remark∣able, that at the ratifying the Peace between King Charles I. and L••wis XIII. A. D. 1629. in the Chapel at W••••••sor, Dr Wren, then Dean of the College, gave the

Oath to the French Ambassador, and not the Archbishop of Canterbury, tho' he was then present.

THE Dean and Chapter are to weigh well and debate at their yearly Chapters all things fit to be dispatched in reference to the College Affairs, and whatsoever Deter∣mination they come to, not repugnant to their Statutes, all Persons are firmly obliged to observe.

THE Deans have no Institution from any Bishop, but his Institution, Investiture, and Installation into the Custos-ship, Canonship, and Prebendship, is conferred from such of the Canons Resident, to whom the King (who collates) doth recommend him. Other Marks of Exemption appear in the constant proving of Wills be∣fore him, or in his Absence before his Lieutenant. In using the Power of Excommunication within their Ju∣risdiction (the Precincts of the College) granting a Dis∣pensation for eating Flesh in Lent, a farther Mark of their Privilege appears, that the Ordination for the Chantry Priests were confirmed by the Dean and Chap∣ter, and not the Bishop of the Diocess, as were the Statutes of the new Commons. The Dean is exemp•• from paying all Synodals, or Procurations, nor can any of the King's Chaplains preach in the Chapel of St. George, unless he be a Canon there, or have License from the King, or from the Dean and Canons. They send no Delegates to the Synod, and when the Point was debated, 1640. it was carried in the Negative, as being against their Liberties, and might intitle them to the Paym••nt of Subsidies; nor are they intitled to any Share in the Government of the Church, more than the Colleges in the Universities, where there are many no∣minal Deans. In short, when by the Act of Uniformi••y, 14 Car. II. every Clergyman was bound to subscribe be∣fore the Arch bishop or his Ordinary, the Canons sub∣scribed before the Dean; and tho' some of them sub∣scribed before the Bishop, yet was it with a Salvo, saving the Ri••hts and Privileges of this Free Chapel.

THEIR Temporal Immunities and Privileges are thes••, as ••r••nt••d th••m by Chart••r, 6 Mar. 27 Edw. III. and confirmed by several of his Successors.

T••E C••stos ••nd Canons were fr••e from p••vin•• Aid upon making the King's eldest Son a Knight, and marrying

his eldest Daughter, and exempt of all Aids to the King's Contributions and Tallages.

WHENSOEVER the Clergy should give a Tenth, or o∣ther Imposition, out of their Spiritualties, or the Com∣mons give a Tenth, Fifteenth, or other, out of their Temporalties, Subsidy, or the King tax his own De∣mean, or the Pope impose any Money to be raised up∣on the Clergy, to give it the King, this College and their Possessions were to stand freed thereof.

THEY were discharged from any Contributions of arraying Soldiers, and from sending them to guard the Sea-Coasts, and from every Fine and Composition of the like Nature. Their Houses within the Castle of Windsor, as elsewhere, are quit from any Livery of the King's and Queen's Stewards, Marshals, Purveyors, Officers, and Servants, and from the like Officers of the Peers or Nobles, and the said Officers were not to inter∣meddle there, without L••ave of the Custos and Canons.

NO Duke, &c. or Nobleman, nor any Stewards, Marshals, Escheators, Sheriffs, Coroners, Bailiffs, or Officers, nor other Person of what Condition soever, upon any Pretence, were not to lodge or rem••in in their Houses without their Consent.

THE Custos, Canons, and their Tenants, were not to pay any Toll, Paviage, Piccage, Barbicanage, Terrage, Pontage, Murage, Passage, Payage, Lestage, Stallage, Tal∣lage, Carriage, Pesage, and from Scot and Geld, Hi∣dage, Scutage, working about Castles, Parks, Bridges, Walls for the King's Houses; and from Suits to the County, or Hundred Courts, and Wapentakes, or Court Leets, Murder, and common Amerciaments, before ei∣ther King, Justices of the Bench, or Itinerant, and from ever•• like Custom had an Immunity.

WITHIN their Lands, Fees, and Precincts, the Chattels of all Felons and Fugitives were seized to their own Use. All Fines for Trespasses, and all other Con∣tempts and Misdemeanors, F••nes pro 〈…〉〈…〉 concord••nd••, and for all other Causes, Amerciaments, Redemptions, Issues, and Forfeitures what••oever, Annum D••em Vastum •• Streppum, and all Things which might belong to the

King and his Heirs, and all Wrecks, Waifs, and Strays, were granted them.

NO Purveyance of Corn, Hay, Horses, Carts, Car∣riages, Victuals, or any Goods, Chattels, or any thing whatsoever, should be carried off by any of the King's Officers, upon their or their Tenants Land.

THEY were to be free from paying any Pension, Cor∣rody, or other Sustentation to be granted to the Crown.

THEY were to have free Warren in all their Demain Lands wheresoever, and that altho' they lay within the Bounds of the King's Forest.

THAT they should enjoy for their Conveniency a weekly Market on W••dnesday, at their Mannor of Ever in Bucks, and Two Fairs to last Eight Days, one on the Eve and Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, and Two Days after the other, upon the Eve and Feast of St. Pet••r ad Vincula, and Two Days following.

THAT they should, in all their Lands have Socage and Sackage, Infangthef, Utfangthef, and View of Frankpledge, with Thewe, Pillory, and Tumbrel for punishing Malefactors, and Power to erect Gallows up∣on their own Soil for executing those apprehended in their Jurisdiction.

THEY were to be exempt of all Suits and Pleas of the Forest, and of all Charges or Fees which the Officers of the Forest might demand, and from the Expeditation of their Dogs and Suits of Court there; as likewise all from Gelds, Dane Gelds, Knights Fees, Payments for Murder and Robbery, Building or Repairing of Bridges, Castles, Parks, Pools, Walls, Sea Banks, Causeways, and Inclosures; and of all Assizes, Summonses, Sheriffs Aids, their Bailiffs, or Officers, bearing of Treasure, and all other Aids whatever; as also from the com∣mon Assessmen••s and Amerciaments of the County, and Hundred, and all Actions relating to them; they were discharged from the Payment of Ward-penny, Aver∣penny, Tithing-penny, and Hundred-penny, and quit from Grithbreck, Forestal, Homesoken, Blodwite, Wardwite, Hangwite, Fightwite, Leyrwite, Lastage, Pannage, Assurt, and Waste of the Forest; so that such Waste be not committed in the Forests, Parks, and

Woods belonging to the Crown, and then reasonable Sa∣tisfaction, without Imprisonment, should be accepted.

ALL Writs and Attachments were returnable to them, as well relating to the Pleas of the Crown as other, thro' all their Lands and Fees, and no Sheriff, Bai∣liff, or Officer, should execute any such there, unless in Default of the Custos and Canons, and they to have and hold Leets, and Lawdays, and Cognizance of all Pleas betwixt their Tenants, as well of Trespasses and Contracts, as others. And lastly, They were to have and hold Wards, Reliefs, Escheats, Forfeitures, and o∣ther Profits, Issues, and Emoluments whatsoever, within their own Fees, from all their Tenants, which might appertain to the Crown, as if the Tenants did hold of the Crown or others in Capite.