Part 10

IT is evident King _Hen._ VIII. designed a Re-establishment 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, besides Five Marks annually, to such one among them as should be constituted their Governor, 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 several 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 _Michaelmas_ following, whereupon the Marquiss of _Winton_, Lord-Treasurer, had Orders to assign Lands for their Maintenance; and towards the compleating of this the Queen had nominated Nine of the Thirteen designed; but falling 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 afterwards, _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 erected certain Orders for their better Regulation, and declar’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 declared, That the Dean and Canons should for ever cause these Rules and Orders to be observed.

_Impr._ That there be Thirteen Poor Knights, all Gentlemen, 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 unmarried, 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 without 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 Afternoon, Divine Service, within the College, in their ordinary 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 common 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, without reasonable Cause and License of the Dean.

10. _It._ Twelve of them to be obedient to him appointed to be Governour, and all Thirteen to the Dean 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 Baptist_, _Michaelmas_, and _Christmas_.

13. _It._ Any of the Twelve Knights disobeying the Governour, in any of these Statutes, to incur the Forfeiture the Dean and Chapter shall put on him, the Governour to report the Offence, which if more heinous, the Dean and Chapter are to give a Warning, and register the same, and after a second Warning Expulsion is to follow; the like Punishment to the Governour, disobeying 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 going from _Windsor_, the Thirteen Knights are to stand before their Doors in their Apparel, and do Obedience.

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_ they shall sit together in their Apparel at one Table, and have Allowance 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 License 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 Sickness) to be present at Divine Service in the College, as aforesaid, 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, without 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 Defalcations 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 before 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 certainly 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 Establishment, is 18 _l._ 5 _s._ to be paid by the Dean of _Windsor_, (but their Governour has 3 _l._ 6 _s._ and 8 _d._ more) besides their Gown and Mantle mentioned in their Statutes. 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 fit, within Four Years after his Death; whereupon Sir _Francis_, determining to erect 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 Executors, for the perpetual Maintenance of Five Alms-Knights, after the rate of 40 _l._ _per Annum_ 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 issu’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 neglected. Sir _Richard Crane_ afterward 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 _Windsor_, _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 _Francis Crane_’s Death, came at that time to 3200 _l._ some Contest ensu’d in _Chancery_; nevertheless the 200 _l._ _per Annum_ was, _July_ 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 Expiration 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 begun 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 Thirty 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 _Car._ 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 Government of the Thirteen of Queen _Elizabeth_’s Foundation, and made equal Partakers of the same Privileges, and wear the like Habits.

KING _Charles_ I. taking into Consideration the Donation 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-Companions 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 propitious 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 begin the Antiphones, celebrate Masses, and read the Lessons, Epistles and Gospels. To his Care was committed 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 Government 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 Ornaments, Jewels, and other 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, Canons, 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 Canon Resident, until such Arrears be discharg’d; as likewise 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 chosen 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 novæ Dotationis_.

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 Pension 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 Indentures, Patents, Grants, Leases, _&c._ which pass the common 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 Barrester at Law.

OF the Virgers Institution the Statutes of the College make mention, that in Procession and other Solemnities, 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 opening 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 Successors, or by Sovereigns of _The Order of the Garter_, such as have been Knights-Companions.

KING _Edw._ III. by his Letters Patent of the Foundation [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 Secular 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 Defect in the Knights Title to _Uttoxater_ and _South-Tanton_, _Henry_ Earl of _Lancaster_, 23 _Edw._ III. and _Thomas Beauchamp_ Earl of _Warwick_, that Year had special Licenses granted them in Right of Patronage to the said Two Advowsons, 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 _Richard 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 Advowsons of the Churches of _Eure_ in _Com. Bucks_, of _Riston_ in _Com. Norfolk_, and of _Whaddon_ and _Caxton_ in _Com. Cantab._, and in _May_ that Year the Advowson of _Simondesbourne_ (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. under 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 intended, 28 _Edw._ III. the King granted the Custos and College, by Letters Patent, a Pension of 100 _l._ _per Annum_ 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 restor’d upon a Treaty of Peace, they were to receive the annual Sum of 101 _l._ 11 _s._ 11 _d._ out of the Exchequer, 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 Priory, 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 Exchequer, 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 _Winchester_ adjudg’d sufficient for the Support of the College, 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 Parsonages of _Estriton_, _Langeley-Maries_, _Wantynge_, _Shaldeborne_, _Wedonbeek_, _Glynde_ and _Ryslepe_; the Pensions of the Vicarages 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_, _Esthenreth Stretham_; of _Thornecroft_ in _Letherhed_; of _Totynbeek_ in _Wodesdon_; _Evington_, _Woodmershthorne_; of _Fordham_, _Ethrope_, _Newenham_, and in _Tollesworth_.

IN succeeding Times other considerable Donations were made by the Sovereigns and Knights Companions (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 _Northmolton_, 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 Appurtenances: 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 _Hantshire_; 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 Requie_, 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, Patronage, and free Disposition of the Hospital or Free Chapel 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 _Charleton_ in _Wilts_; and all the Lands, _&c._ in _Northmundon_, _Compton_ and _Weleigh_, in _Sussex_ and _Southampton_; the Mannor of _Ponyngton_ and _Widon_ 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, Rights, _&c._