TheGeorge KingCharlesI. had at his Martyrdom, was curiously Engraved in an Onyx set about with twenty One large Table-Diamonds in the Fashion of a Garter. On the reverse of the said George was the Picture of the Queen set in a Case of Gold, the Lid neatly enamell’d with Goldsmith’s Work, and surrounded with another Garter adorned with an equal Number of Diamonds, aswas that of KingCharlesII. also sett with fair Diamonds; and after the Defeat given to theScotchForces atWorcester, 4Car.II. was strangely preserved by ColonelBlague, one of that King’s dispersed Attendants, who resigned it for safety to the Wife of Mr.BarlowofBlare-Pipe-HouseinStafford-shire, where he took Sanctuary; from whomRobert MilwardEsq; receiv’d and gave it into the Hands of Mr.Isaac Walton, (all Loyalists.) It came again toBlague’s Possession, then Prisoner in the Tower; whence making his escape, he restor’d it to KingCharlesII.
Itis worthy of Remark, that besides the Sovereign of the most Noble Order of the Garter, other Princes of Christendom have assumed the bearing St.Georgeencountring the Dragon in like Posture, tho’ not so anciently, nor upon the same Grounds and Foundation as they; probably having elected him Patron and Guardian of their Countries or Families; such as the Emperors ofRussia, the Dukes ofMantua, and the CountsMansfieldinGermany, as their Seals and Coins plainly demonstrate.
Inthe Great Seal ofBorice Feodorwicke, Emperour ofRussiaaffixed to his Letter sent to QueenElizabeth, dated atMosco,June12th, 1602, was a double Headed Eagle displaid, having each Head crowned, and bearing an Eschutcheon with the Representation of St.Georgeupon its Breast. There is another of this Emperour’s Great Seals, fixed to his Letter, datedMay31st. 1594. which he also sent to QueenElizabeth. On one side is the above-said Eagle, having on his Breast an Escutcheon charged with an Horse currant; the Reverse the Figure of St.Georgeencountring the Dragon with his Spear. The Great Seal ofAlexie Michaelowich, Emperour ofRussia, affixed to his Letters sent KingCharlesII. 1660. hath a like Eagle with a third Crown situated between the two Heads, and bearing in a Cartouch-Compartment upon his Breast, the Figure of St.George: Which Representation of St.Georgeand the Dragon, we find assigned for Arms, toAnne de Russie, Daughter toJarislausKing ofRussiaandMuscovia, given in Espousal toHenryI. King ofFrance, 1051. and thus Blazon’d,D’in St.Marthede Gueules, a un homme a Cheval, d’argent, tenantune Lance en la main, qu’il darde en la gueule d’un Dragon renverse.
TheCounts ofMansfieldhave frequently stamp’d it on their Coin. On one side is St.Georgeencountring the Dragon with his Sword, with this Circumscription,Sanct. Geo. Co. do. de Man.on the reverse, his Arms circumscribed,Mon. de Arc. Co. do. de Man.Of those of the Dukes ofMantua, we may see one ofVincentiusDuke ofMantuaandMontferat, a Knight of the Order of theGolden Fleece, wherein is his Effigies to the Breast,Vinc. D. G. Dux MANT.III.MONTFERU.on the Reverse St.Georgeand the Dragon, Motto,Protector nostra aspic.1591. andCasalat the Bottom.
§ 10.When the Habit or part of it ought to be worn is the next thing we shall speak of.
Themore solemn Days and Occasions which require a fuller conformity, and the wearing the whole Habit,i. e.the Garter, Mantle, Surcoat, Hood, Collar, Great George, and Cap, are first, The High Festival of the Order, commonly called St.George’s Feast, whether it be solemnized on the 22d, 23d or 24th ofApril, annually, or any other Days within the Year by Prorogation, as is apparent by all the Bodies of the Statutes.
For, First it is ordained, That the Knights-Companions should be Arrayed in the whole Habit on the Eve of St.George, before the Sovereign proceeded to the Chapter to hear Divine Service, and being so Robed, should attend on the Sovereign to the Chapter-House, thence to the Chapel, and return with him back in the same manner, until after Supper, as well those that minded to Sup, as those that should not Sup; nor might they disrobe, until the Sovereign or his Deputy had put off his, or declar’d it seasonable for his or their doing so.
Bythe same Statute they were enjoined to wear the whole Habit on the Feast of St.George, both at their Progression in the Morning to the Chapter-House or Chapel, at their return to Dinner from thence to the Second Vespers, and back to Supper, as also till Supper was over, and until the Sovereign or his Lieutenant took leave of the rest of the Knights-Companions.
Secondly,Itis manifest from KingHenryVIII’s Statutes, That the Eve, the Day of St.George, and Morrow following, were to be observed with solemn Service, and holding of Chapters wheresoever the Sovereign was resident; tho’ the Grand Feast were Prorogued to a longer Duration; and when by reason of such Prorogation, they should convene in any Place besidesWindsorto attend the Sovereign for the Solemnization of St.George’s Day, they then must Adorn themselves with the whole Habit from beginning of the first Vespers, until the last Evening Service of the same Day.
Thirdly,Onsuch other Days of the Year whereon the Grand Feast is held by Prorogation, and during such Part of the Eve and Day of the Feast, as is before appointed when it is held on its proper Day.
Fourthly,Byabsent Knights, whensoever the Grand Feast of St.Georgeshould be celebrated, and wheresoever they should happen at that time to reside, (if at Liberty, and not under restraint) to keep it in like manner as if then present with the Sovereign, or his Deputy in the Place where he should Celebrate the Feast. The time of wearing the whole Habit in this Point extends but to the End of the second Vespers, as in the second Instance above.
Fifthly,TheKnights-Companions are to wear the entire Habit at the Feasts of Installation when they assist at that Ceremony; where, if it commence in the Evening, they are not to disrobe themselves till after Supper; and being the next Morning habited as before, then to proceed to the Chapter-House or Chapel, and not to devest themselves till Dinner is ended.
Theless solemn Occasions are those, which require the wearing the Mantle or Collar of the Order only.
Andthey are first, upon the Morrow after the Grand Feast-Day, when the Sovereign and Knights-Companions proceed to the Chapel, and make their Offering; then it sufficeth, that they barely put on the Mantle, which, Service being Finished, they were wont to leave it at the Chapter-House-Door as they retired out of the Chapel.
Secondly,Asoften as Chapters are called, and in what Place soever assembled, either for Elections, or other Causes, as it shall please the Sovereign to nominate:And as often as it is requisite for the Sovereign, or any of the Knights-Companions to enter into the Chapel of St.GeorgeatWindsor; and in reference hereunto, is the Article 15E.3. was that their Mantles should remain in the Vestry atWindsor, that upon any sudden emergency, they might be in readiness: for in the Inventory of the Chapel taken 8R.2. we find remaining at that time in the Vestry, a Mantle appertaining to the Sovereign, another toJohnDuke ofBritain, a third toJohn HollandEarl ofHuntington, another toEdmund LangleyEarl ofCambridge, and one toThomas Holland, Earl ofKent, all of them then surviving: And by a Decree past at the Grand Feast 1H.6. the Mantle of the young Sovereign was appointed to be left atWindsor, as the Statutes required; and this Article was confirmed by KingHenryVIII. by Virtue whereof, the Mantles of the EmperorCharlesV. andAnnaDuke ofMontmorency, were left in the Custody of the Dean and Canons ofWindsor. And heretofore in the Bill of drawing up Matters necessary for the Installation of a Knight-Companion, there were usually two Mantles set down; one expressed to be left in the College, and the other for all other Occasions that might intervene.
TheseMantles thus ordered to be reposed in the College upon emergent Occasions, were anciently committed to the Custody of the Black-Rod, as granted by Letters Patent with the Office 1H.5. And after the Death of the Owners, devolved to the Dean and Canons ofWindsor, either for the publick Use of the Knights-Companions when they casually came toWindsor, or else sold sometimes to the Heirs of the Deceased, or others who succeeded in the Order, as that ofCharlesV. was to the Earl ofBedford, and that of the Constable ofFrancelent to the Earl ofWarwick,Ann.7Eliz.which appears from the Accounts of the Chanter of the College,temp. H.4.H.5.H.8. Q.Eliz.andJac.1. who in all times answered the full Benefit thereof to the College, as being a certain Perquisite to the Dean and Canons, which they accordingly had and enjoyed.
Andyet we find some of the College made over-bold with the Robe ofSigismondthe Emperour, and sold it while he surviv’d. But the Archbishop ofYork, who,as Chancellor ofEngland, visited the College, 1431. secured the Money from being distributed among those that sold it, and reserved the Dividend to the Dean and Chapter that should chance to be living at that Emperour’s Expiration; and commanded for the Future under Pain of Excommunication, That no Dean and Canon should imbezil or aliene any Knights-Companion’s Mantle while he was alive, but the same should be decently and faithfully kept and preserved. But we are informed, that this Statute was altered,Ann.9Eliz.and one drawn up to this effect,That the Knights-Companions should be bound by Oath to take care by their Wills, that after their Decease, all the Ornaments which they had received should be restored, the Robes to the College, and the Jewels to the Sovereign that gave them.
Inthe last Place, the Times of wearing the Collar of the Order, with the GreatGeorgeappendant, which is not only enjoined to be worn (as part of the Habit) at the grand Feasts and Feasts of Installation, but also at other times when not any of the rest of the Habit is ordered (saving the Garter) is to be worn, as in special,at the principal and solemn Feasts of the Year, and other Feast-Days: To which a particular Order in Chapter,Ann.4Eliz.thus directs,
The Holy-days and Sundays within the twelve Days.St.MatthiasDay.Holydays inEaster-Week.St.Mark’s Day.St.PhilipandJacob’s Day.Holy-days inWhitsun-Week.St.Peter’s Day.St.James’s Day.St.Bartholomew.St.Matthew.St.Luke.St.SimonandJude.St.Andrew.St.Thomas.
The Holy-days and Sundays within the twelve Days.St.MatthiasDay.Holydays inEaster-Week.St.Mark’s Day.St.PhilipandJacob’s Day.Holy-days inWhitsun-Week.St.Peter’s Day.St.James’s Day.St.Bartholomew.St.Matthew.St.Luke.St.SimonandJude.St.Andrew.St.Thomas.
The Holy-days and Sundays within the twelve Days.St.MatthiasDay.Holydays inEaster-Week.St.Mark’s Day.St.PhilipandJacob’s Day.Holy-days inWhitsun-Week.St.Peter’s Day.St.James’s Day.St.Bartholomew.St.Matthew.St.Luke.St.SimonandJude.St.Andrew.St.Thomas.
The Holy-days and Sundays within the twelve Days.
St.MatthiasDay.
Holydays inEaster-Week.
St.Mark’s Day.
St.PhilipandJacob’s Day.
Holy-days inWhitsun-Week.
St.Peter’s Day.
St.James’s Day.
St.Bartholomew.
St.Matthew.
St.Luke.
St.SimonandJude.
St.Andrew.
St.Thomas.
Besidesthese, the Sovereigns and Knights-Companions have been accustomed to wear this Ensign upon the Anniversary of the Sovereign’s Coronation, of theGun-Powder Treason, and, of later Times, on the Sovereign’s Birth-day: So formerly upon some occasional Ceremonies not relative to the Order; as when a Knight-Companion hath been created into Titles of Dignity and Honour, he had the Collar of the Garter added to hisInvestiture, as appears in the Case ofHenry Stafford, created Earl ofWiltshire,Ann.1Hen.8. And at a Chapter heldMay22d. 1622. That such Knights-Companions as should afterwards assist at the Funeral of any Knight-Companion, should wear the Collarapertat the said Funeral. And it was so observed by the Dukes ofOrmondandRichmond, the Earls ofManchesterandSandwich, at the Obsequies ofGeorge MonkDuke ofAlbemarle.
Howbeit, the Custom is otherwise as to wearing the Garter, the principal Ensign of the Order; for tho’ it be injoyned to be wore at the grand Festivals,&c.yet it does not imply that it might be left off: For indeed it ought daily to be worn both by the Sovereign and Knights Companions. And therefore was it decreed even in its Institution, That if any Knight-Companion should in publick be found without one buckled about his Leg, upon Challenge he should be mulct a Noble to the Dean and College ofWindsor. By KingHenryVIII. the Fine was raised a Mark, payable as before to any of the five Officers of the Order, or to the Dean; besides which Fine, the Knight lies liable to a Check. But to alleviate the Strictness, and obviating other Inconveniencies, KingHenryV. admitted of a Qualification; and in case of riding with Boots, ordained, That it might suffice if the Knight-Companion wore some Ribband or Silk-Lace to represent the Garter; tho’ in this very Article there is a Proviso, That no Knight-Companion should enter into Chapter, without his Garter buckled about the Leg.
In short, KingHenryVIII. ordained, That the Gold-Chain whereat the lesserGeorge(in that Age) hung, should be worn all other days in the Year, except the Principal and Solemn Feasts, whereon the great Collar was ordained to be worn, and except in time of War, Sickness, or long Voyage, in any of which Cases, a Silk-Lace or Ribband, with the Image of St.Georgethereat, was sufficient; and the blue Ribband having since succeeded in Place of theGold Chain, the Injunction of this Statute extends to it in all particulars.