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CU RIAL I A:
OR
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
OF.
S O M E B R A N CH ES
OF EHE:
ROYAL HOUSHO L.D. &c. &c.
P A R T I..
CONSISTING OF
TWO. DISSERTATION's
ADDRESSED TO THE
Preſident of the Society of Antiquaries, London.
viz.
L. ON THE OBSO L'ET E OFFICE of the ESQUIRES of the
KING's BODY..
II. ON THE ORIGINAL NATURE, DUTY; &c. of the
GENTLEMEN of the KING's molt Honourable PRIVY CHAMBER. -
By SA MU EL PEGGE, ESQ:
L O N D ON,
Printed by J. NICHOLS, Printer to the Society of ANTIQUARIÉS; .
And fold by T. Payne and Son, Mews Gate; B. WHITE and Son,
at Horace's Head, in Fleet-ſtreet; J. Robson, New Bond-ſtreet; .
and Leigh and SOTHEBY, York-ftreet, Covent Garden.
MDCCLXXXII.
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Τ Η Ε Κ Ι Ν
K I N G
THE FOLLOWING WORK IS, BY ROYAL
INDULGENCE, HUMBLY INSCRIBED
Br
HIS MAJESTY'S
MOST FAITHFUL SUBJECT
AND
DUTIFUL SERVANT
SAMUEL PEGGE,
One of the GROOMS of His MAJESTY's
Moſt Honourable
.
PRIVY CHAMBE R.
11
{
--
}
5
i
{
[VI
1
To the
the PRESIDENT,
VICE-PRESIDENTS, and FELLOWS
of the Society of ANTIQUARIES, LONDON.
GENTLEMEN,
I
OUGHT amply to apologize for withdrawing the
following Pieces from your Publications after the fa-
vourable Reception they have met with at your hands ;
and have only to urge, that I thought it more becoming
my Office, as well as more reſpectful to the KING, who
has vouchſafed to accept them, that they ſhould appear
as an independent Work.
I have not the Vanity to lay any Claim to publick Fa-
vour--and therefore only look to the very few who may
be attached to ſuch Subjects from Curioſity, Office, or
Choice
Contentus paucis lectoribus
HOR.
though I confeſs to have had the Preſumption to ſhelter
myſelf under the size and Type of your ARCHAEOLOGIA,
with a modeſt Wiſh that theſe Papers may (by fome at
leaſt) be conſidered as collateral Appendages to that learned
and valuable Work.
B
As
)
[. vi )
As I am not without Hopes of adding to this little
Publication, as Opportunity and Documents may offer,
I have ſtyled it PART THE FIRST;--and after returning
my Thanks to ſuch Gentlemen of the Society, and to my
Friends in general, who have hitherto affifted me with
their Communications, I have the Honour to be,
GENTLEMEN,
Your obliged
And moſt obedient Servant,
SAMUEL PEGG E.
1
Whitehall,
April 23, 1782.
/
[ 7 ]
CU RI A L I A:
OR,
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT, &c.
DISSERT A TION I.
ON THE OBSOLÉ TE OFFICE
of the
E'S QUIR E S of the KING'S BODY *
To the Preſident of the Society of Antiquaries, London.
SIR,
A
MONG the various ſubjects which attract the attention
of your learned Society, thoſe, I ſhould imagine, cannot
be unacceptable which relate to any ancient branch of the houf
bold of your Royal PATRON;- and as ſeveral memoirs are found
in the ARCHAEOLOGIA, conſiſting of matter of this kind, I beg
leave through your favour, to offer, with deference, ſome ac-
count of the ancient and now obſolete office of The ESQUIRES
* Read at the Society of Antiquaries, May 20, 1779.
B 2
of
· 8
On the Obſolete Office of the
V
of the King's Body. As the ſubject is but juſt out of the reach
of vivá voce information, it may perhaps be thought ſcarce
ripe enough for inveſtigation; but I believe I máy venture to
affert that the nature, duty, &c. of theſe officers are as little
known, as if they had been diſcontinued for ages, though they
were in being at the beginning of the preſent century. I in-
cline then to beļieve, Sir, that the ESQUIRES of the BODY
were an appendage to the King as being a KNIGHT; and as
every knight had anciently two ESQUIRES attending him in an
intimate degree, fo the King might very well be intitled at
leaſt to four, which was no more than was claimed by every
Peer, while a knight-bachelor had but two *. According to
Mr. Camden, “ One of the EsQUIRES carried the knight's hel-
s6 met, the other his buckler, and were his inſeparable compa-
“ nions, holding lands of him by eſcuage in the ſame manner as
of the Knight held of the king by knight's-ſervice.”
Theſe
are Mr. Camden's words, and yet I cannot but think, though I
am aſhamed to diſpute fo high an authority, that he has been
led into an error, and that the ESQUIRES bore the Knight's
lance and buckler, and not the helmet and buckler. I take my
ground for this preſumptiön from the appearance which the
CHAMPION affords us on CORONATIONS (perhaps the only re-
preſentation now to be had of a Knight arm'd cap à pié) who
* Prefatory Diſcourſe to Camden's Britannia. Lord Audley had four Es-
QUIRES at the battle of Poi&tiers 1356, and his liberality to them for their ſer-
vices is on record, where he transfers to them the bounty which EDWARD the
Black Prince had beſtowed upon himſelf. [v. Echard's Hiſt. of Eng.) And Mr.
Selden mentions an earl of Saliſbury who had four ESQUIREs in the reign of king
Richard II. (Tit. Hon. p. 834. edit. 1631.] Sir Henry Spelman likewiſe tells
us in general terins that the nobility had anciently four, when two only were
allowed to knights-bachelors [Proceres quatuor, equites aurari duos, (fc. armigeros]
habuiffe dicuntur]. Gloff, in voce Armiger.
is
.
A
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
92
is preceded by two ESQUIRES, one of whom bears his lance and
the other his field *.
We may add to this, that the very terms Armiger and
SCUTIFER, which were their ancient proper titles, imply ra-.
ther the bearing of the offenſive and defenſive weapons of the
Knight than any part of his body armour, and point directly:
at the lance and field : and further it can eaſily be diſcerned
that the offices of ARMIGER and SCUTIFER were formerly di-
ſtinct from each other, with a manifeſt inferiority on the part:
of the Scutifer or field-bearer ; for, excluſive of what will
appear hereafter in Chaucer's caſe, it is obfervable in Sandford's
account of the coronation of King James II. (which was as full,
accurate, and ſtudiouſly complete as poſſible in all its branches)
that of the champion's two ESQUIRES, the ARMIGER (or he.
who bore the lance) had the poſt of honour and went on the
right hand of the other (the SCUTIFER) who carried the ſhield.
The KNIGHT, had likewiſe in his ſuite certain Pages to be
occaſionally ready to do him ſervice, who alſo appear in the
ceremonial of the CHAMPION as depicted by Sandford, and the :
helmet, when not worn by the Knight might very properly be
born by one of them. I ſpeak of Knights Bachelors, and it is of
them that Mr. Camden is ſpeaking; for BARONS and the higher
orders of nobility had four Esquires, as we have ſeen, and in .
ſuch caſe a third ESQUIRE might bear the helmet. But to pro-
ceed with the ESQUIRES:in queſtion. Though many ESQUIRES
* See Ogleby's Coronation of king Charles II. and Sandford's Coronation of
king James II. in both which we have drawings of this ceremonial. The heral-
dic account alſo ſays that of the two ESQUIRES attendant on the champion (who
is generally ſuppoſed to be a knight), one was to bear the lance and the other the
shield. [v. I. 7. in Off. Arm.] And further Mr. Du Freſne ſays, that thoſe who
carried the arms and the field (arma ac fcuta) of knights were called ARMIGERI
and SCUTIFERI.. [v. Gloff. in voce Valettusa].
might
1
vo
On the Obſolete Office of the
1
might ſerve under the ſame KNIGHT, in proportion to his poſ-
ſeſſions, yet two ſeem only to have been of his body, had the
eſpecial care of his perſon, and were his companions in hours
of privacy and retirement. Analogous to this, the ESQUIRES
of the King's Body will be found to have been very confiden-
tial officers, and anciently near the Royal Perfon both by day
and night.
I was led into this piece of chivalry by a paſſage in Shake-
Speare who makes Sir John Falſtaf' pun upon the word KNIGHT,
“ When thou art king,” ſays Sir John to the prince of Wales,
" let not us that are SQUIRES of the Night's BODY be called
" thieves of the Day's beauty *." From this paſſage it is very
clear that Shakeſpeare underſtood the Esquires of the King's
Body to be an appurtenance to his:KNIGHTHOOD. Upon the
ſame idea the ESQUIRES on Inſtallations of Knights of the Bath
are preſerved in like manner as they were formerly uſed when
the Knighthood and Inveſtiture were conferred eodem inftante ; In-
ſtallation being a modern ceremony introduced upon the revi-
val of the order (1725) in imitation of the Order of the Garter.
The Knight of the Bath is attended at this day by three Gen-
tlemen who go promiſcuouſly, though erroneouſly, under the de-
nomination of his Esquires; but one of them ſhould be un-
derſtood to be a PAGE, whoſe office was to ride before the
Eques Defignatus after his bathing, to the court for the purpoſe
of his being dubbed and inveſted, bearing the ſword, pummel
upwards, with the Spurs hanging upon the hilt, while the two
ESQUIRES rode on each ſide of the intended KNIGHT. Mr.
Selden likewiſe allows but two ESQUIRES to a Knight of the
Bath, and they were antiently called ESQUIRES governors who
* Hen. IV. Part I. act I. ſc. 2.
were
Esquires of the King's Body.
II
were to inſtruct the Knight in matters of chivalry &c. *
This diſtinction is preſerved in the ſtatutes of the order as it now
ſtands, and în ancient ceremonials (two of which are printed in
Mr. Anſtis's Obſervations on the order of the Bath), the two
ESQUIRES only are mentioned without taking any notice of
the Page. Theſe ESQUIRES Governors were rewarded by the
KNIGHT, (till within little more than a century) not by a ſpea
cific ſum of money, as others were who attended the cere-
mony, but by annuities during life preſerving thereby a relique:
of eſcuage f. To return to the Esquires of the King's
Body. It appears from the houſhold of king Edward IV.
(called the Liber Niger Domûs Regis Angliæ) that their
denomination is relative; for there were at that time, both
KNIGHTS and Esquires of houſhold, as they are there called,
which laſt conſiſted at leaſt of. forty in number; and.66 out of
“ theſe, or otherwiſe choſen, were four to be of the BODY I."
What number our kings might retain in very ancient times, or
in the field, is uncertain ; but, from this period they did not in
domeſtic life ordinarily exceed four, two of whom waited quar-
terly (Temp. Edw. IV.) though afterwards one only was
upon actual duty at a time, except in proceſſions, or on occa-
fions of parade. Since the reſtoration indeed. fupernumeraries
have been appointed without duty or ſalary, with a reverfionary
intereſt to ſucceed of courſe on vacancies, which was common
* See the ancient manner of making Knights of the Bath in the late. Mr. An-
ſtis's Obſervations publiſhed 1725, extracted from the Cott. Library Nero c. ix.
xi. fol. 168. [v. alſo Selden's Titles of Honour, ch. v. fe&t: 47.]
† MS. in: Off. Arm Knights-Service was aboliſhed (and | Eſcuage fell of
courſe) by Statute anno 12 Car. IK .
We find however in a ſubſequent book of Ordinances in this reign that king
Edward IV, had enlarged the number; for he had (A. D. 2478) ten KNIGHTS
and nine ESQUIRES of his body, Bibl. Harl. N. 642.
in
12
On the Obſolete Office of the
in other branches of the houſhold. In a printed account of the
coronation of king Edward VI. they are called keepers of the
king's perfon *, which appellation may very well be juſtified
by what will be offered preſently.
HAYING thus brought the office within the limits of the
houſhold, I ſhall beg leave to proceed to the inveſtigation of the
duty of the EsQUIRE in waiting (as the court term is) from the
King's riſing to his going to bed.: after which time it will ap-
pear that the ESQUIRE of the Body was the moſt confidential
officer of all others that ſlept in the court. But I would firſt
obſerve, that theſe officers, domeſtically ſpeaking, ſeem to have
been entirely regal; for Henry prince of Wales, eldeſt ſon of
King James the Firſt (large as his houſhold eſtablifhment was)
had no ESQUIRE of bis Body, although he was a Knight 6.
The ESQUIRES of the Body then, Sir, were in the department
of the Lord Chamberlain, their duty being, for the moſt part,
in the rooms above ſtairs: they were Gentlemen of birth, or of
good alliance, if not of fortune : and though ESQUIRE was the
generical appellation, yet they were often knights, which laſt,
when ſpoken of individually, were called KNIGHTS of the Body.
In ſome caſes one KNIGHT of the Body ſeems to have been
equivalent to two ESQUIRES ; for it is ſaid in certain caſes, that
there muſt be a two ESQUIRES or one KNIGHT.” Conform-
ably with this I find, that when the King kept his eſtate in the
hall upon a principal feaſt (Temp. Hen. VII.) there fat, with
him a BISHOP and a DUKE, and for want of a DUKE TWO EARLS:
and this commutation is confirmed by the ordinances of king
Edward IV. (1478) above-cited, where in the article relatiog to
the counting-houſe it is ſaid “ two PAGES make anſwer to one
66 GROOM, two GROOMS to one YEOMAN, and two YEOMEN to
* Mexia's Treaſure of ancient and modern Learning.
Bibl. Harl. N° 642, now printed in Dr. Birch's Life of Prince Henry.
4
$6 a GEN-
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
13
to a GENTLEMAN *." It is to be obſerved that there wire then
the progreſſive ſtages of official rank; as they are, in many cales,
at this day. Apart from the enlargement of the number of Ex-
quires mentioned, (p. 11.) let us revert to the eſtabliſhment of
the four which, we find, with ſome innovations had been the
uſual complement. In the Liber Niger Domus Regis Anglia
(Temp. Edw. IV.) it is ſaid there ſhall be “ ESQUIRES for the
“ King's Body four, noble of condition, whereof always
- two be attendant on the king's perſon to array and unarray
*5 him, watch day and night, and to dreſs him in his cloaths
66 and they be callers + to the lord chamberlain if any thing
66 lack for his perſon or pleafaunce. Their buſineſs is in many
s ſecrets, ſome ſitting in the king's chamber, ſome in the hall
“ with perſons of like ſervice, which is called knights ſervice.
« Taking every of them for his livery at night” (a certain
quantity of bread, wine, and ale, and in winter certain allow-
ances of candles, wood, &c.] “and wages in the counting-houſe,
“ if he be preſent in court, daily ſeven pence balfpenny, and
cloathing with the houſehold winter and ſummer, or elſe forty
* Shillings, beſides his other fee of the jewel houſe, or of the
treaſurer of England, and, beſides his watching-cloathing of
56 chamber of the king's wardrobe. He hath abiding in this
56 court but two ſervants [and] livery ſufficient for his horſes in
" the country by the herberger 1." Theſe ordinances do not
limit the number of horſes ; but the ſtatutes, made at Eltham
anno 17 Hen, VIII. (1526), ſay that every knight belonging to
the houſhold, whether of the body or not, ſhall be allowed ſta.
bling for fix horſes, and every equire of the body five horſes.
Anciently if an ESQUIRE of the Body went abroad in the cha-
* See Bibl. Harl. N° 642. p. 92.
Sc, Harbinger.
+ Retainers.
с
racter
.
1
para o
*
N
14
On the Obſolete Office of the
racter of an ambaffador, he had an eſcorte of horſe allowed by
the king, ſuperior to other eſquires, viz. fix-when a common
eſquire had, at the moſt, but four. A KNIGHT of the Body
had ten, and fometimes fifteen horſes on like occaſions; when
a mere knight (not of the body, or at leaſt not of the
houſhold) had in the proportion of eight to ten, or of ten to
fifteen * The ſtatutes of Eltham likewiſe allow every ESQUIRE .
of the Body to retain four ſervants, two of whom were allow-
ed to eat in the hall:
This book of ordinances of king Edward IV. then preſcribes
*an outlipe of the offices to be performed by the ESQUIRË
of the Body upon duty; and orders, that 6 one of them
os make [ready ) the King's cupboard (at night]; and not depart
“ from it till the King had drinken for All-night," which we
may ſuppoſe was taking his leave in a grace-cup. The term
ſeems to explain itſelf, but I ſhall preſently give a full account
of the ceremony. Antecedent to this (according to theſe ordi-
nances) one of the KNIGHTS of the Body, together with a Gen-
TLEMAN USHER, was to ſuperviſe the making of the KING'S .
bed, and (according to tlíe orders temp. Hen. VII.) to ſprinkle
it with holy water, and at a proper time to ſet the KING's ſword
at the bed's head space
IŅ fome ordinances for the government of the houſhold,
made in the reign of king Henry VII. it is ſaid that the
ESQUIRES for the Body ſhall “ array and unarray the KING,
- and no man elfe was to ſet hand on him.": But this, I'ap-
prehend, muſt at that period be confined within the limits of
the bedchamber; for wlien the KING dreſſed in his Privy Cham-
ber, the Eltham ſtatutes (made in the next reigni) fay expreſſly
* Hearne's Diſcourſes, Vol. I. p. 1:52. edit. 1773. in 2-vols 8vo.
Le Nere's Colle&ticns in the office of arms, WW.
2
(in
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
15
:
+
(in the article relating to that apartment) the king is to be ap-
parelled by the “ GENTLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER."
IN that room, againſt the tiñe of the king's riſing, were ap-
pointed to attend hiin sıx gentlemen of the privy chamber, Two
gentlemen ufbers, four grooms, the page, and the barber, which-
laſt was to come furniſhed with “ water, cloths, baſon, knives,
6 combs, fciffars, &c. for trimming and drefſing the King's
6 head and beard." Both theſe circumſtances might however
very well ſubfiſt at the ſame time; for the KING might be
dreſſed but looſely in the bed-chamber by the ESQUIRE of his
Body, and proceed to the more finiſhed and ornamental part of
his dreſs in the privy chamber.
Ar dinner there was another office to be performed by the
Esquire; for the above-cited ordinances of king Henry VII.
tell us that “ one of the EsQUIRES of the Body is to be
ready, and obedient at dinner and fupper, to ſerve the King of
“ his pottage at ſuch time as he ſhall be commanded by the
Sewer and gentleman uſher." Whether the Esquire ſerved the
king of any thing more than merely the pattage at dinner and
fupper, does not appear: but in the afternoon (on certain fefti-
vals at leaſt) when there was a voYDE * the ESQUIRE ſerved
the KING with the cup when 110 greater eſtate was preſent.
* A voyde was a ſmall refe&tion of ſpices (a term at that time including
all ſorts of ſweets of the confectionary kind), and rich wines, frequently taken
by the KING and Queen after even-ſong, which on great feſtivals was attend-
ed with much ſtate. I have no better gueſs at the meaning of the word than
that it is a transfer of the terın from the utenfil to the cereinony, a voyder being
a kind of tray, ſtill in uſe, under that denomination, for the purpoſe of moving
glaffes, &c. from one room to another. Time ſeeins to have contracted the word
a little, though its meaning lias been enlarged ſo far as to imply the whole cere-
mony, “ After which there was a VOYDE" occurs frequently in accounts of an-
THOUGH
C2
1
On the Obfolete Office of tbe
16
THOUGĦ we have now left the KING in his.privy chamber,
and in the hands of the ſervants of that apartment, yet we muſt
not entirely difiniſs the Esquire ; for Sir H. Spelman fays, that
when the KING went out, the office of the ESQUIRE was to fol-
low him and carry the cloak *.
Thus inuch for the office of the Esquire of the Body by
day; but the principal, moſt effential, and moſt honorable part
of his duty was at night: for when the KING retired to bed, the
Esquire had the concentrated power of the gentlemen ubers,
the vice chamberlain, and lord chamberlain, in himſelf, having the
abſolute command of the houſe both above and below fairs.
At this period (the reign of king Henry VIII.) and till the
cloſe of the laſt century, the royal apartments, from the bed
chamber to the guard chamber incluſively, were occupied in the
night by one or more of the ſervants belonging to each cham-
ber reſpectively. The principal officer, then called the GENTLE-
cient high feſtivals. But what moſt favours this derivation is a paffage in Sir
George Buck's Account of the Coronation of K. Richard III. “ Laſtly,” ſays he,
" after dinner caine the lord mayor of London and the ſheriffs with a VOYDER.
[Life of K. Richard III.] The lord mayor of London is chief butler on a coro-
nation, and ſerves the king with a cup of wine, and this formerly might be a
branch of that office. The only veſtiges of a voyde remaining at preſent are pre-
ſerved in the ceremony of the MAUNDY, performed in his majefty's chapel at
White-Hall when after evening prayers (the buſineſs of the day being finiſhed)
the officers belonging to the Almonry retire to the Veftry, where they are ſerved, by
the
proper officers reſpectively, with Roſe water to waſh their hands, and for their
refreſhment with Rolls of Bread, and Sack.
* Die, principem foris progredientem, ſubſequitur (fc. Armiger ad corpus) pal-
fium ejus ferens in caſulâ. (Spelman's Gloff. in voce Armiger.] The eſquire at:
tended the king in progreſſes probably for this as well as other purpoſes. [Sec
Leland's Collectanea, edit. ult. Vol. IV. p. 191.] This branch of the efquire's of-
fice has now devolved upon the Page of Honour, who, at Reviews, carries the
King's cloak, or in more modern language his ſurtout, on horſeback placed before
him in a port-manteau of blue velyet richly guarded with gold lace.
6
MAN
more
1
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
17
MAN (now the LORD) of the bed chamber, ſlept on a pallet-bed in
the ſame room with the KING, and in the ante-room, between
the privy chamber and the bed chamber, (in the reign of king
Charles II. at leaſt) ſlept the GROOM of the bed chamber. *In
the privy chamber pext adjoining flept Two of the fix GENTLE-
MEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER in waiting, and in the preſence
cbamber the Esquire of the Body, on a pallet-bed, upon
the haut pas, under the cloth of eſtate, while one of the PAGES
of the preſence chamber ſlept in the ſame room, without the
verge of the canopy, not far from the door. All theſe tempo-
rary beds were put up at night, and diſplaced in the morning,
by the officers of a particular branch of the wardrobe called the
wardrobe of beds. Beyond all theſe in the guard room was the
watch, conſiſting of a certain number of the yeomen of the guard.
AFTER Supper, previous to the King's retiring to his Bed
Chamber, the proper Officers were to ſee all things furniſhed for
the Night, ſome for the King's Bed Chamber, and others for
the King's Cup-board, which was ſometimes in the Privy Cham-
ber, and ſometimes in the Preſence Chamber, at the Royal Plea-
fure, and furniſhed with Refections for the King's Refreſhment
if called for. After this the Officers of the Day retired, and
committed all to the Charge of the ESQUIRE of the Body.
This Domeſtick Ceremony was called THE ORDER of ALL-
Night; the Nature of which I ſhall now give at large from
an account preſerved in the LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE.t.
The Writer who was himſelf an ESQUIRE of the Body to two
ſucceſſive Kings goes circumſtantially through the whole of
* Ordinances of King Charles II.
of Communicated to me by the late George Wilmot, Eſq. when firft clerk in
that office.
the
18
On the Obſolete Office, &c.
the Esquirė’s Buſineſs of the Night; from whence it will appear
that, even fo lately as the middle of laſt Century, the Office
was of ſo confidential a Nature, that no Diſpatch, Letter, or
Meſſage, could be communicated to the King in the Night, but
what was brought to the ESQUIRE on Duty, and by him car-.
ried in propria perſoná to the King.
I have taken the liberty to add ſuch notes as appear neceffary
for the information of thoſe who are unacquainted with the
eſtabliſhment of the Royal Houſhold.
.
The
5
[ 19 ]
:
!
The ORDER of ALL-NIG H T,
As deſcribed by FERDINANDO MARSH A M
ESQUIRE: of the BODY
To K. CHARLES. I. and K. CHARLES II*.
. .
«
T anciently as followeth
HE ORDER of ALL-Night for the KING was
anciently as followeth.
66. The Gentleman-Uſher, Daily Waiter t, having the Charge
6 of conſtant Attendance upon his Majeſty, until 9 o'Clock at
- Night, called to the Yeoman Uſher I attending at the Guard:
66 Chamber Door. for Ten Yeomen to attend him to go for All-
“ Night for the King. The Gentleman Uſerswent bare-headed,
" and the Yeoman (Ufber] to the Pantry for bread-to the But-
* Mr. Marſham was a collateral Anceſtor of the. Right Honourable Lord
ROMNEY, being the younger Brother of the firſt Sir John Marſham, Baronet, as
appears by comparing Wood's Athena Oxonienſes-with the Peerages. I find him
an Eſquire.of the Body to King Charles II, in a Preſent State of the Year 1674
(penes me.); and it appears by his own account that he had ſerved K. Chärles I. in
the ſame capacity.
In the Preſence Chamber, which is ſituated next-without the Prirry Chimber,
are four Gentlemen. Uſhers, Daily IVaiters, who at preſent officiate Monthly by
The Superior of theſe is the Gentleman Uher of the Black Rod, whoſe
attendance on the King is diſpenſed with on account of his Parliamentary Duty,
Jie being the Gentleman Uſher appropriatid to the Houſe of Peers. He is likewile
Gentleman Uſher of the Moſt Noble Order of the Garter.
I Theſe, eight in Number, are now a .Branch of the Yeomen of the Guard,
and are the loweſt Qrder of Uders.
tulns.
66 tery
.
*
On the Obſolete Ofice of the
,
at.
“ tery [i. e. Butlery) for Two Flagons of Beer to the Spicery
" for Sugar, Nutmegs, &c.--to the Wine-Cellar for two at
Flagons of Wine f-and drank the King's Health in both
" Cellars, cauſing all to be uncovered going and back, having
“ a Groom of the Chamber carrying a lighted Torch before the
66 Gentleman Uſher until he returned into the Prefence Chamber,
" and lay all the Services upon the Cup-board there ; and fo de-
6c livers all to the ESQUIRE of the Body and takes his Leave.
" The ESQUIRÈ then takes the Inner Keys and Charge of
" ALL-Night, calls to the Yeoman Uſher or Clerk of the Cheque
« for the Roll of the Watch and the Page of the Preſence ş,
“ with a Silver Bafon, with a Wax Morter ll, and Sizes **
• tends the Esquire into the Privy Gallery ft. Then he (the
ESQUIRE] takes the Bafon II, &c. and carries it to the King's
* A Flagon, according to Bp. Fleetwood, held Four Quarts, or a Gallon,
[v. Chronicon Pretioſum.]
+ By great Flagons of Wine perhaps is meant Ale-Meaſure. The Surplus of
theſe Articles was then probably a Perquiſite to fome inferior officer,
☆ Of theſe Officers there are Ten, who belong to the Great Chamber (long con-
founded with the Guard Chamber), and are properly the Houſhold Meſſengers
under the Lord Chamberlain.
$ Four in number, who wait alternately in the Preſence Chamber,
|| Derived from the French word Mortier, which, among other things, figni-
fies A Chamber Lamp (Cotgrave in Voce Mortier]. Mr. Menage thinks that the
Preſidents au Mortier in France are ſo ſtyled from the ſhape of their Caps, which
originally reſembled an Apothecary's Morter. (v. Menage, Diet. Etymologique, in
voce Mortier.) An Etymological Writer, however, tells us, that the Term, as
applied to their Caps is Celtic, and that the Word Mortier is a Compound of
Mor (great) and Tier (Crown). [v. A Specimen of an Etymological Vocabula-
ry, p. 44. London. 1768, 8vo.]
** Certain Allowances of Bread, Beer, Cheeſe, &c. are ſo called to this Day
in the Univerſity of Cambridge.
++ The Court was then at White-Hall, where there was a Privy Gallery. See
the following Differtation prope finem.
If The Uſe of the Baſon will be explained hereafter in Sir Francis Kynafton's
Note on a Paſſage in Chaucer, with a fuller Deſcription of the Morter.
Beda
A
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
21
66 Bed-chamber, and ſtays until his majeſty goes into his bed,
" and then goes himſelf to bed, under the State in the Preſence
« Chamber, in a pallet-bed *, fent up from the ward-robe. At
“ eight o'clock in the morning there was the Esquire's breakfaſt
“ uſually brought up to the waiter's chamber, where the Gentle-
man Uſher attended with a Quarter Waiter f, to relieve and
" diſcharge him, and to take care of the daily waiting, and to
“ ſee the preſence and other rooms made ſweet and clean. The
6 breakfaſt was a good piece of boiled beef of fourteen pound
weight, with bread, beer, and wine; and ſometimes a boiled ca-
" pon, and a piece of veal or mutton.
“ There was a 'ſilk traverſe I hung up, and drawn by the page
“ [of the preſence] and the chair turned, and the page lay on a
" pallet-bed without the traverſe.
:56 AFTER
* Etymologiſts differ ſo much about the derivation of the word Pallet, that I
muſt beg leave to refer you to Junius, Skinner, Minſheu, &c. We all know
that it was a low bed, without curtains, very little raiſed above the floor, and
which, for it's more eaſy removal, I apprehend, uſually went upon wheels : from
whence, in very humble life, it was vulgarly called a Trundle-bed, as alſo a
Truckle-bed, which in the day-time, for want of room, was concealed under a
higher bed.
+ There are eight gentlemen uſhers quarterly-waiters, ſubordinate in rank to
the gentlemen uſhers daily-waiters, one of whom now waits monthly in the pre-
Jence-chamber.
I This term, in the preſent inſtance, merely implies a curtain; but it is fre-
quently uſed, by a Synecdoche, to expreſs the whole cloth of eflate, or canopy. The
word ſeems to have been imported from Italy-Traverſa, in old Italian, fignifying
a curtain, meaning, I preſume, when applied to a window, as being drawn croſs it,
which afterwards might be adopted to expreſs curtains in general. [v. Florio's
Italian Dictionary in voce). The Royal Traverſes ſeem to have been fixed in ſome
apartinents, and in others to have been temporary : thus anciently upon marriages,
chriſtenings, &c. occaſional traverſes were put up in the chapel royal, and the little
canopy or pavilion, now erected by the ſide of the altar, when the King and
D
QUEEN
1
!
22
'On the Obſolete Office of the
:,
66 AFTER the ESQUIRE of the BODY had carried the morter
66 into the bed-chamber, and received the word of the KING, with
- his treble (triple] key, which the ESQUIRE in waiting always
66 had, he locked the outward doors leading into the privy lody-
ings, and then went into the guard-chamber, and ſet the
" watch ll, and then returned to the preſence-chamber, where he
lodged under the canopy, being the CHIEF OFFICER OF THAT
2
66 NIGHT
1
“ In all the time of my duty and ſervice upon my Royal Mar-
" ter, his late Majeſty of bleſſed memory, I, being ESQUIRE OF
“ the Body, did always come into the King's bed chamber
* without aſking leave of any; and I did every night, having
my ſword and cloak on, bring in the morter into his majeſty's
“ bed chamber, and ſtayed there as long as I pleaſed, which was
“ commonly till his majeſty went into bed; and, having received
" the word from his majeſty, I ſet the guard, and after All-
NIGHT was ſerved up, I had the ſole and abſolute command of
" the houſe above and below ſtairs, as his majeſty did declare upon
o ſeveral occaſions to be the right of my place. And in the
Queen receive the communion, would antiently have been called a traverſe. The
fall of the Dean of the Chapel, and thoſe of Archbiſhops and Biſhops, in their cathe-
drals, are traverſes. All theſe finaller traverſes have curtains, as anciently had the
cloth of eſtate, not only of the ſovereign, but of ſome of the nobility at leaſt :
for in a print of the Howard Family, engraved by Vertue, from a painting at
Norfolk-houſe, the curtains of the cloth of eſtate are expreſſed. It is a private print,
but is well known to the connoiſſeurs.
11 The ſetting the watch became afterwards the duty of the Exempts (or Exons)
of the Yeomen of the Guard. Theſe gentlemen are officers of that. Corps next below
the Enfign, and are four in number, who wait by turns. The Exempt on duty
- Sleeps in the palace at preſent, being commander of the detachment of yeomen on
duty for the night. As theſe officers were not added to the corps till the year
1668, we'are brought nearly to the time when Mr. Marſham wrote this account,
viz. between the Reſtoration and that year.
66 time
7
with
ESQUIRES of the King's Bony.
23
ma
56 time of war, upon all occaſions that required, I went into the
“ bed chamber, and awaked his majeſty, and delivered all letters
56 and meſſages to his majeſty : and many times, by his majeſty's
command, I returned anſwers to the letters, and delivered
" orders. And I remember that, coming to the King's bed
s chamber door, which was bolted on the inſide, the late earl
6 of BRISTOL *, then being in waiting, and lying there, he
66 unbolted the door upon my knocking, and aſked me what
“ newsI told him I had a letter for the King. The Earl
« then demanded the letter of me, which I told him I could
deliver to none but the King himſelf: upon which the KING
“ faid-The Eſquire is in the right; for he ought not to deliver
any letter or meſſage to any but myſelf, he being at this time the
CHIEF OFFICER OF MY HOUSE; and if he had delivered the
" letter to any other, I ſhould not have thought him fit for his
6 place
“ And before this time I never heard that any offered to hin-
“ der the Esquire from coming to the King, and I have fre-
quently brought letters and meſſages to the bed-ſide when the
$6 Duke of RichMOND was in waiting t. By me,
6. FERDINANDO MARSHAMI.
The truth of this account of the Esquire's acceſs to the
KING's perſon in the night is confirmed by orders for the govern-
ment of the Houfhold [Temp. Car. II.] above cited, made (as ap-
* Of the name of Digby, created Earl of Briſtol, anno 20 Jac. I. which title
became extinct 1698.
+ Lodovick Stuart was created Duke of Richmond 1604. The title extinguiſhed
1672.
| We are probably indebted to Mr. Marſham's pique at the behaviour of the
Earl of Briſtol for this inſight into the above little ceremonial.
D 2
pears
!
24
On the Obfolete Office of the
pears from ſome circumſtances) about the year 1670, and figned
by the King, where it is ſaid that,
“ If any buſineſs of importance or diſturbance ſhall happen,
" which is fit we ſhould be acquainted with, he (the Esquire)
• ſhall come through our Privy Chamber, acquainting the Gen-
TLEMEN that lodge there that it is for our fervice he pafſeth
" that way, and ſhall come and give notice to a GROOM of our
BED-CHAMBER lodging in our Drawing Room *, who ſhall
“ acquaint the GENTLEMAN OF THE BED-CHAMBER in waiting
" therewith, and then bring the ESQUIRE unto him, to deliver
“ his meſſage and buſineſs unto us." The Entrée of the bed-
chamber was however foon afterwards taken from the ESQUIRES,
notwithſtanding the above-cited ordinance, which is ſo ftrong
and explicit : for, by freſh orders of the year 1673, the ESQUIRE
is directed,
“ To wait in the withdrawing-room to receive the watch-
" word; and thať he preſume not to come into our bed-cham-
66 ber until we are pleaſed to call for him: and when we have
“ given him the word he is to depart immediately, unleſs we
« ſhall command him to ſtay longer ut." The ESQUIRËS how-
ever were reſtored to their priſtine honour in the ſucceeding
reign; for the orders reſpecting the bed-chamber of the year 1685,
fay, “ The ESQUIRE of our Body attending ſhall come into
our Bed CHAMBER without leave when he brings the mòrter, to
6 receive the watch-word from us, and may ftay till we go to
16 bed ."
After ALL-NIGHT was ſerved, no one was permitted
* An ante-room to the bed.chamber, between that and the privy-chamber.
+ This appears from a controverſy which aroſe (1683) between the Lord Cham-
berlain and the Groom of the Stole, touching the right of the former to the ENTRÉE
of the bed-chamber without leavé-the circamítances of which I hope to give in a
future memoir.
Orders for the Government of the Bed Chamber of that year, penes me.
4
(according
1
Esquires of the King's Body.
25
i
(according to the ſtatutes of Elthamn) to come within the preſence-
chamber, except the two GENTLEMEN who ſlept in the PRIVY
CHAMBÉR, This order ſeems to have been grounded upon that
of king Edward IV. (A. D. 1478,) which ſays, that after the
ſervice of ALL-NIGHT was performed, “no officer" (that is, who
had day-duty only] was to abide in his office, nor return to
66. his office again after his departure, without eſpecial com-
" mandment of the KING or the Queen, or elſe by a ſpecial
s token from the steWARD of the houſhold, or from the King's,
66 or QUEEN'S CHAMBERLAIN*." The following circumſtances.
regarding the etiquette of the morning are obſervable when the
preſence chamber was to reſume it's ſtate, without any traces of
its having been uſed as a bed-chamber. The Eltham ſtatutes,
ſay, “ that the page" [of this chamber] “ ſhall daily ariſe at
“ feven of the clock, or ſoon after, making the fires, and warn--
66. ing the Esquires of the Body ſemblably to ariſe ſoon after
" that hour, ſo-as they may be ready in the King's chamber,
“ dreffed in all ſuch things as appertaineth, by eight of the clock
at fartheft." And to: fhew how ſacred this room was held:
even when the king was not preſent, none but the officers be-
longing to it were ſuffered to enter, not even the ſervants of the
ESQUIRES themſelves; for the order goes on and peremptorily
1
66°
* See the ordinances of king Edward IV. in the Harleian Library, Nº 642.
It
may not be amiſs to obſerve here that there were two books of houſhold ordi-
nances which iſſued within a few years of each other in that reign. The date of
the firſt does not appear, but it is aſcertained by Sir Robert Cotton, Bart. to have
been of the year 1472, [v. Cottoni Poſthuma, . p. 167.] The ſecond ſpeaks for
itſelf, and was of the year 1478, and is called “ The New Book of the Houſhold of
“ King Edward IV.”. They are both to be ſeen in Bibl. Harl. N° 642.. All-
NIGHT was then ſerved from Candlemas tó Michaelmas by day-light, and from
Michaelmas to Candlemas by eight o'clock at fartheft. [Ordinances of the year
1478.]
enjoins,
:
5
26
On the Obſolete Office of the
enjoins, “ that none of the ſervants of the ſaid Esquires for the
so Body come within the pallet," (that is preſence] os chamber,
66 but be attendant at the door of the ſame, as well at night as
- in the morning, with ſuch garments as their maſter ſhall
wear, and that the ſaid PAGE, at the requeſt and command-
ment of the ſaid ESQUIRES, fetch in and bear out their
night-gear, and all other their apparel, and in like wiſe
66 make them ready as well at night as in the morning accord-
ingly." Theſe orders then proceed to this effect, that left
the preparation of the chamber for the king's reception ſhould
be hindered by the negligence of the eſquires, they were, if
tardy in riſing, to retire in their night-gowns to their private
apartment, and there dreſs themſelves; and if the room is not
evacuated in due time, the PAGE is ſtrictly commanded to re-
preſent the matter to the LORD CHAMBERLAIN without fear or
affection at his peril.
Thus much, Sir, for the domeſtick functions of theſe Es-
QUIRES: we muſt now look for them in proceſſions and other
folemnities. On the demiſe of king Edward IV. the corpſe was
conveyed from the palace of Weſtminſter to the abbey,
66 born
66 by divers KNIGHTS and ESQUÍRES that were of his BODY
On the eve of the coronation of king Richard III, in the pro-
ceſſion from the Tower to Weſtminſter the mantles and hats of
eſtate were 6 worn and born up by John Sapcote and William
Cateſby ESQUIRES of the Body of our ſovereign LORD the
“ KING before his highneſs I.” On this occaſion their allow-
ance for apparel from the wardrobe was nine yards and a half of
crimſon velvet. When king Henry the seventh's QUEEN
* Archaeologia, vol. I. p. 348.
+ See wardrobe account of the year 1483, printed in the Antiquarian Reper-
tory. Vol. II. p. 247.
The hats I conceive were born in their hands : but the mantles are ſaid to have
been worn bawderick-wiſe, i. e, obliquely over the right ſhoulder in the manner
of the antient ſword-belt.
proceeded
ESQUIRES of the King's Body,
27
proceeded from the Tower to Weſtminſter, the day before the co-
ronation, the canopy was born by four KNIGHTS of the BODY *,
On the following day at the coronation it was ſupported, as
uſual, by the barons of the cinque ports.
Among others who
accompanied the Princess MARY, daughter of king Henry
VII. to France on her marriage with Louis XII. were
eight. EsQUIRES of the King's Body, with an extra allowance
of thirteen ſhillings and four pence per day it. This was early
in the reign of Henry VIII, who, though he had. but four ES-
QUIRES in ordinary, yet he perhaps had four extraordinary who
might be called to this duty propter dignitatem, or poſſibly fuu
pernumeraries might be appointed pro illá vice.
In the ſame reign at the chriſtening of prince EDWARD
(afterwards king EDWARD. VI.) the FONT was kept by two
KNIGHTS and four ESQUIRES of the Body I. At the corona-
tion of king CHARLES II. in the proceſſion through the city
on horſeback (ſays Ogleby), rode “in their places the Es-
QUIRES of the Body four in number.” At the coronation
dioner we ſhall find two of them employed in a manner that
ſhewed their official adheſion to the Royal Perſon : theſe we:
may ſuppoſe were the two feniors whoſe buſineſs, is thus de
fcribed by Ogleby. Before the coronation. dinner two Es-
QUIRES of the Body took their ſeats upon two little foot-
• ftools on either ſide of the feet of the KING's chair (which
" was placed oppoſite to the middle of the table,), and there fat
" till the KING came in to dinner, when riſing, and perform-
* ing their duty in placing the KING's robes, for his better
!
* On account of the diſtance twelve knights were appointed for the purpoſe,
four bearing it at a time, who relieved each other, by claſſes. [Addenda to Leo
land's Collectanea. Vol. IV. p. 221.]
+ Idem. Vol. II. p. 702.
M. 6. in Off. Arm. where the knights and eſquires are mentioned hy name.
- conveniency
Z
28
On the Obſolete Office of the
“ conveniency of ſitting, they ſat down again at the King's
feet ſome part of dianer time, until the KING gave them
« leave to riſe *.” I find them in a ſimilar poſition in the time
of king RICHARD III. for in a MS. account of the coronation
of that king and his queen Anne it is ſaid, that, dụring dinner,
“ two Esquires of the Body were lying (or rather, as we
may ſuppoſe, ſitting in a recumbent poſture) under the
66 KING's board *.” In a like ſituation I find two ladies at the
coronation of ELIZABETH the queen of king Henry VII. for
grace being ſaid, “ Dame Katheryn Gray, and maiſtriſs Ditton,
as wente undre the table, wher the [they] ſett on ether ſide the
" Queen's feetee al the dyner time I.”
In all proceſſions that I have ſeen, whether on coronations, to
parliament, to church, or at funerals, theſe officers had a reſpectable
place, and from their ſituations on ſuch occaſions and other au-
thorities we may diſcern that they had a ſpecific rank. Sir Henry
Spelman gives them the pas of all equires by office (ſuch as may be
termed, if I am allowed the expreſſion, artificial eſquires), and even
doubts whether they did not precede the eldeſt ſons of KNIGHTS:
but of this laſt circumſtance, Sir Henry ſpeaks diffidently, and
ſeems not to have given himſelf the trouble of enquiring minutely,
as he might have dave, the office and all its appendages being
well known in his time & Mr. Selden is filent on the ſubject
of their precedence, as is Sir William Segar : Francis Mark-
ham, however, in his Decades of Honour, ſays, the firſt fort of
* Ogleby's Coronation of King Charles II. p. 187.
# M. 7. in Off. Arm.
| Addenda to Leland's Collectanea, vol. IV. P.
226.
§ Theſe are his words, “ Inter Armigeros qui fiunt, non naſcuntur, primarii
" habentur quatuor illi Armigeri ad corpus Regis :" and then adds, “ Quos et
“ equitum filiis primogenitis anteponendos afferunt.” (Spelm. Gloff. in voce
Armiger.]
eſquires,
ESQUIRES of the King's BODY
29
BER.
eſquires, are the Esquires of the King's Body * Mr. Cam-
den likewiſe, ſpeaking of eſquires, ſays “the chief are they who
66 are choſen to attend the KING'S PERSON." Theſe muſt be
underſtood, to be the ESQUIRES in queſtion ; for thoſe, who
were antiently called equires of boufhold--were, at the time
when Mr. Camden wrote, called gentlemen of the PRIVY CHAM-
There can be little doubt then that theſe EŠQUIRES were
by their office the premiers, and had precedence of all eſquires
by creation and office, though not of all who had that denomi-
nation by birth. As theſe officers preceded all other eſquires,
ſo we may conclude analogically that KNIGHTS of the BODY
had the precedence of other knights. This agrees very well
with what Sir William Segar ſays t., " that the heralds at fu-
6 nerals are to marſhall the mourners into their ſeveral claſſes,
“ as, gentlemen, eſquires, knights, &c. ever preferring (caeteris
“ paribus). her majeſty's oficers and ſervants.” In proceſſions at
the latter end of the ſixteenth and the beginning of the ſeven-
teenth centuries, I find the place of the ESQUIRES of the Body
varying very much, and, from comparing them, one would in-
cline to doubt whether they or even knights-bachelors, had pre-
cedence. Thus (anno 1588) in Queen Elizabeth's proceſſion to
St. Paul's the ESQUIRES of the Body had place above KNIGHTS;
in a proceſſion to parliament in the ſame reign, I find them be-
low KNIGHTS, and at the Queen's funeral they are again placed
above KNIGHTS.
In king James's reign they walked above
KNIGHTS at the KING's entry I. In the proceſſion to parlia-
ment (1603) I find them above KNIGHTS, and on the ſame oc-
caſion (1614) below them. From this fluctuation of rank little
* Decade II. Epiſtle 6. London 1626, ſmall folio.
of Honour Military and Civil, R. 253.
At the coronation of king James I. no knights walked,
E
call
30
On the Obſolete Office of the
can be collected: but as it is a glaring abſurdity to ſuppoſe an
eſquire can, at any rate, precede a knight, the matter may be
folved thus ;---that in ſuch of theſe caſes where they went above
KNIGHTS, they ſhould have been ſtyled KNIGHTS of the BODY;
and when below them ESQUIRES of the BODY, diſtinguiſhing the
Species from the genus. But we can have recourſe to more an-
tient authority from whence the ESQUIRE's rank may be diſco-
vered with preciſion; for, in the order of all eſtates ſet forth by
Anthony earl Rivers in the 20th year of king Edward the
Fourth, the parties are thus placed,
Knights Bachelors.
Eldeft fons of Bannerets.
Eldeſt ſons of Bachelor Knights.
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
Younger fons of Bannerets.
Younger fons of Knights Bachelors *.
From hence it is clear that the ESQUIRES of the Body had
at that period a middle rank with reſpect to efquires by birth,
viz, below the eldeſt fons of bannerets and knights-bachelors, and
above their younger ſons.
The wife of the ESQUIRE would likewiſe have a derivative
rank, which is in ſome fort aſcertained by the following autho-
rities. In ſome ordinances of apparel which I find in the office
of arms wf, the wife of an ESQUIRE of the Body might wear
five powderings I on her bonnet, when the wife of a common ef-
quire might wear but two: and again in “ the ordinance of
ap-
“ parel for all eſtates for the time of mourning made by MAR-
* Hare's MSS. in Off. Arm.
+ Vincent's Precedents,
Each black tuft upon the white fur ground, which we colle&tively call
ermine, is termed a powdering,
66 GARET
I
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
31
56 TERS.
<< GARET COUNTESS of RICHMOND, (anno 18 Hen. VII, on
“ the death of PRINCE ARTHUR *) it is ſaid that the queen's
“ CHEYF GENTYLWOMAN, and squry's WYFE for the BODYE,
“ being in houſhold, to wear in all things like LORD'S DAUGH-
" At that time of day, and indeed till the cloſe of
the laſt century, the mourning for the whole houſhold was
provided at the king's charge by the officers of the great ward-
robe; and antiently when the wife of the ESQUIRE was com-
plimented with like mourning as a BARON's daughter, I find
the ESQUIRE himſelf had the ſame allowance as a KNIGHT,
viz. fix yards of cloth. A KNIGHT indeed had livery for four fer-
vants, and an Esquire for three only; but at the ſame time other
efquires had but five yards of cloth for themſelves, and livery
for only two fervantst. Not long before this period the ESQUIRES
had ſome pre-eminence in point of dreſs on ordinary occaſions;
for in the ſtatute of apparel made in the 22d year of king
Edw. IV. (chap. 1.) it is declared, “ that none under the degree
of a knight ſhall wear any damaſk or fattin in their gowns,
6 but only ESQUIRES of the Body, upon pain to forfeit for
“ every default forty ſhillings.” This was a greater privilege
than it appears to be primâ facie ; for the yeomen of the crown,
who were the premiers of that degree at the time, had not
only no ſimilar indulgence in this particular above the reſt of
the yeomanry of England, but were prohibited by name from
wearing any thing above their natural rank. There are like.
wiſe exceptions in favor both of theſe ESQUIRES and their wives
in a former ſtatute of apparel, in the 3d year of this reign.
It may be matter of ſurprize to thoſe who are partially ac-
quainted with the royal houfhold, that the ſalary of an officer fo
* In the Office of Arms.
of Bibl. Harl. N° 1107. fol. 54.
E 2
higla
܀ |
32
On the Obſolete Office of the
high in rank and confidence ſhould never have exèeeded (everi
to the laſt) 50 marks or £133. 6. 8. per an. · This muſt be
taken comparatively with other collateral officers, ſuch as gen-
tlemen ubers, &c. for at the acceflion of king Henry Vill. the
gentlemen ubers of the privy chamber, and the gentlemen ufbers
daily waiters, had but £20 per annum, when the ESQUIRES of
the Body had £ 33. 6. 8. which conſtituted a very material
difference at that time of day. We have ſeen that the fee or
ſalary of an ESQUIRE of every denomination was in the reign
of king Edward IV. ſeven pence halfpenny per dieſ, that being
an aliquot part of a pound. The ſalary of the ESQUIRES of
the Body however made a rapid advance, either at the latter
end of the reign of king Edward IV. or early in the reign of
king Richard III. in the very firſt year of whoſe reign I find a
warrant to the receiver of the Duchy of Lancaſter, “ to con-
" tent and pay unto Bryan. Talbot, fifty marks for his fee of
66. SQUIRE of the Body for the year laft*.” Neither is this a
fingular caſe, for there are others to be found of equal date in
* Bibl. Harl. Nº 433. where docquets of many fuch warrants are to be ſeen.
This antiently was the mode by which great part of the King's houfhold was paid;
for the KING then granted to his ſervants affignments upon the officers einployed
in the receipt of his revenue, ſuch as fheriffs of counties, collectors of cuſtoms, ſub-
fidies, &c. Theſe aſignees had letters-patent, tallies of the Exchequer, writs of
privy-ſeal, zvarrants, &c. entitling them to their reſpective claims, and in default
of payment they brought actions of debt in the court of Exchequer againſt the
cfficer on whom their ſalary was charged. [See Madox's MSS. in the Britiſh
Muſeum, Nº 4486 : and likewiſe his Hiſtory of the Exchequer.] This mode
of payment is not entirely worn out; for the KING's ferjeant at 'arms, appro-
priated to the lord mayor of London, receives his ſalary at this day from the
Sheriffs of London, (who are conjunctively the sheriff of Middleſex,) it being le-
vied by the ferjeani's patent," upon the king's revenues ariſing from the city of
London and the county of Middleſex. This appears from the words of the lord Cham-
berlain's warrant, directed to the attorney or follicitor general, to prepare the ſer-
jeant's patent for the royal ſignature,
the
..
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
33
the ſame MS. which ſhew that fifty marks, or £ 33. 6s. 8 d.
was then become the eſtabliſhed ſtipend, which continued to
the laſt.
As to other emoluments accruing to the ESQUIRES, more
than we have already ſeen, I obſerve none. There was indeed
án apartment at Whitehall allotted to the ESQUIRE on duty
which, as he ſlept in the preſence chamber, and was dieted col-
lectively with other braiiches of the houſhold of ſimilar rank,
operated merely as a dreſing-room, and was but a negative ad-
vantage. Neither do I perceive any contingent perquiſites ariſing
to the Esquire, ſuch as New-years gifts of, or fees of honour,
which laſt are Droits of office, granted to certain houſhold
officers upon the making of Knights, the creation of peers, the
homage of biſhops, &c.
The Esquires of Knights Bachelors had anciently a privi-
lege which would hardly be denied to thoſe of the higher order
belonging to the Sovereign ; viz. a freedom from perſonal arreſt
when in actual ſervice, of which Mr. Selden has left us a re-
markable caſe, wherein it appears that Sir Francis Tias recovered
£o 5. damages, in the reign of king Edward I. in the court of
Wakefield, in Yorkſhire, againſt German Mercer, for arreſting
the horſe of William Lepton, that was his EsQUIRE, and ſo
making him to be unattended-Equia fuit fine armigero 1). This
exemption from perſonal arreſt extended to other branches of the
houſhold, as will appear from the certificate of a Gentleman of the
Privy Chamber, in the reign of king Charles H. given in the fol-
lowing Differtation.
* See the Ground-plan of WHITE-HALL, engraved by Vertue, from a draw-
ing made 1680, and now republihed by your Society.
+ New-years Gifts continued to be given both by the LORD STEWARD and
the LORD CHAMBERLAIN till the reign of king James II. Lifts of both which I
have ſeen.
I Tit. of Hon. p. 833. Edit. 1631.
THUS
1
..
.
-
-
34
On the Obſolete Office of the
.
Thus much, Sir, I have ventured to offer, and I hope with
tolerable grounds of authority, with regard to the nature and
duty both ancient and modern of theſe officers. I ſhall now beg
leave to add a word or two of their ſtill greater ſuppoſed anti-
quity, which will gradually lead to their extinction.
I dare not advance any thing tending to aſcertain the firſt
appointment of the ESQUIRES of the Body as Houſhold Officers :
but from the nature of their duty, and as an appendage to KNIGHT-
HOOD, one would imagine them to have been co-eval with
KNIGHT-Hood itſelf in its military ſenſe. Mr. Selden ſays he
meets with the earlieſt mention of the title of Armigeri in Orde-
ricus Vitalis ; and the period alluded to is the reign of king Wil-
liam the Conqueror: but from what I am going to offer, this
title appears evidently to have been in uſe, generally ſpeaking,
much earlier, though we cannot ſay they were appropriated to
the Body; for there were from very early times Eſquires of the
Houſhold [Armigeri de Hofpitio] out of whom fome might be
more cloſely annexed to the King's perſon, and be appointed to
the Body [ad Corpus]. King ALFRED had his ESQUIRES, but
whether they were of his Houſhold only, or of his Body, is not
clear ; yet one would incline to believe (from the complexion of
the times) that they might be occaſionally and particularly in
the field, ſelettively ſuch. Be this as it may, he pays great re-
gard to them, both generally and ſpecifically by his will, where-
by he gives to each of his ESQUIRES 100 marks. [cuilibet armi-
gerorum meorum [ſc. lego] centum marcas, fingulis eorum profe
centum marcas *. ]
I likewiſe meet with Robert de Roelent an ESQUIRE to king
EDWARD the CONFESSOR, by whom he was afterwards made a
Knight . James de Burton was an ESQUIRE of the Body to
* Afferius Menevenſis de rebus geſtis Alfredi.
Brady's Hiſt. of England, p. 219. in a note,
king
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
35
king Richard I * There can be little doubt that CHAUCER was
an ESQUIRE of the Body to king Edward III.- Sir Francis Ky.
naſton, who tranſlated the two firſt Books of Chaucer's Troilus
and Creſleide into Latin Verſe, labours to prove it in a note
upon a paſſage where the poet has accidentally dropt the word
morter, which Sir Francis interprets to be an alluſion to the more
ter made uſe of in the Royal Bed Chamber; and from thence
draws his concluſion. Sir Francis, who had been a KNIGHT of
the Body to king Charles I. was naturally ſtruck with the paf.
ſage, and in his note has gone further into the nature of the
office of an ESQUIRE of the Body than any printed account I
ever ſaw ; but his conclufion is rather weak; for the ceremony
of ſerving All-Night, and the uſe of the morter, muſt have been
very well known to every interior branch of the officers of the
houſhold. Weak as the proof is, Sir F. Kynaſton ſeems to have
had truth on his ſide'; for, I think, we are maſters of ftronger
evidence, which will leave no doubt, and will clear two points
at once --firſt, that Chaucer was an ESQUIRE of the body, and
fecondly, that he poſſeſſed the offices of ScutiFeR and ARMIGER
ſucceſſively. This laſt circumſtance will thew that the advance
from the SCUTIFER to the ARMIGER was progrefſive, and con-
firm what has been ſuggeſted concerning theſe two poſts in the
early part of this memoir. Theſe proofs are to be found in
Urry's Life of Chaucer, who has preſerved a commiffion of the
46th year of king Edward III. wherein Chaucer is ſtyled “Scuti.
“ FER noſter;" and likewiſe a grant of the 48th year of the
fame king, wherein he is ſtyled “ Dilectus ARMIGER nofter."
* Hift. of Leiceſterſhire, by William Burton, Eſq. (whoſe anceſtor he was),
p. 177.
This
-
1
1
1
36
On the. Obſolete Office of the
This was at a period when, I think, the words Armiger and Scu-
tifer could not be conſidered as ſynonymous terms
The ordinances of king Edward the Fourth, before cited, and
which were founded on the model of king Edward III. fpeak
of the ESQUIRES of the Body as old, eſtabliſhed officers of the
Royal Houfhold. Weever has preſerved, out of Digfwell-church,
in Hertfordſhire, a.monumental inſcription, to the memory of
John Perient, who was ESQUIRE of the Body to king Richard II,
king Henry IV. and king Henry V *t.
We have already ſeen them in the ſubſequent reigns of king
Henry VI, king Edward IV. king Richard III. king Henry, VII.
king Henry VIII and king Edward VI. but nothing has been
hitherto faid of the reigns of queen Mary and queen ELIZA-
* Sir Francis Kypafton's
, note, which Mr. Urry. has given at large, is worth
tranſcribing. The Lines in Chaucer which occaſioned it are,
“ For by that morter whiche I ſe brenne
« Know I ful well that day is not far henne."
Troil. & Creff. Lib. IV. Line 1245.
* This word [ſc. Morter) doth plainly intimate our author Jeffrey Chaucer to
« have been an ESQUIRE of the Body in ordinary to the KING, whoſe office it is,
“ after he has charged and ſet the watch of the guard, to carry in the morter, and
“ ſet it by the King's bed-ſide ; for he takes from the cupboard a ſilver bafon, and
" therein pours a little water, and then ſets a round cake of virgin wax in the
“ middle of the balon, in the middle of which cake is a wick of bumbaft [i. e, cot-
«. ton], which being lighted burns as a match-light all night at the King's bed-
“ fide. It has, as I conceive, the naine of morter, from the likeneſs it has, when
“ near conſumed, to a morter wherein you bray ſpices ; for the flame melt-
« ing firſt the middle of the wax cake which is neareſt to it; the wax by
“ degrees, like the land in an hour-glaſs, runs evenly from all ſides to the
“ middle to ſupply the wick. This royal ceremony Chaucer wittily fancies to
6 be in Creſſeide's bed-chamber, calling this kind of match-light by the name
" of morter, which very few courtiers befides the ESQUIRES of the Body (who
“ only are admitted after ALL-Night is ſerved to come into the King's bed-
« chamber) do underſtand what is meant by it."
+ Weeyer's Funeral Monuments, p. 594. Edt. 16317
BETH.
ܝܝ
1
ESQUIRes of the King's Body.
37
BETH. One would be led to ſuppoſe, that a Queen Regent had
no officer of this nature; but I obſerve the EsQyIRES were con-
tiņued in both reigns, though perhaps ſome part of their duty
might be diſpenſed with. Queen Mary had three * ; Queen
Elizabeth four + ESQUIRES, at the old ſalary of fifty marks. Sir
Thomas Bodley was appointed one of them to Queen Elizabeth,
1580, as we are informed by Antony Wood, and the writer of
Sir Thomas's Life, in Latin, prefixed to the catalogue of the
Bodleian Library, printed at Oxford, 1697 I. I mention theſe
two authorities becauſe the compilers of the Biographia Britanni-
ca call him Gentleman Upher #1
may not feem ſtrange that a Queen Regent thould have of-
ficers of this fort, though one rather wonders to find them in
the retinue of a Queen Confort; but I have ſeen in the account
of the cofferer of PHILIPPA, the Queen of king Edward III. in
his 25th year (preſerved in his Majeſty's State Paper Office) an
order to pay to Sir William Fitz Warren, KNIGHT of the BODY
to the Queen, 10 marks for his ſalary for one year. But this
is not the only inſtance; for I obſerve, that in a book of cere-
monies to be uſed on great feaſts, of the gth of king Henry VII,
in the article relating to Twelfth Day, an ESQUIRE of the Body
is mentioned as being appropriated to the QUEEN S.
IT
* See a MS. containing all Q. Mary's officers, &c. in the Library of your
Society.
+ Peck's Deſiderata Curioſa, V. I. p. 39. Edit. 1779.
This Life of Sir Thomas Bodley was tranſlated from the Engliſh into Latin
by Dr. George Hakewill, who was his kinfınan. Wood's Athenæ, Vol. II.
col. 125.
|| Dr. Hakewill's word is ſomatophylax, which literally agrees with the writer
above cited, who calls the ESQUIRE keeper of the perſon, Y. antea, p. 120
$ Bibl. Harl. N. 642.
F
We
.
38
Of the Obfolete Office of the
We have likewiſe ſeen them in the reigns of king James I.
king Charles I. and king Charles Il. four in number in ordinas
ry, when, by Mr. Marſham's account, they were in full em-
ployment and confidence. We are drawing to a period however
when we muft very ſoon take leave of them; for though
there was a very great Retrenchment made by king Charles II.
(1668) and many of the King's State Officers "ſwept away, ör
contracted in their falaries, yet the EsquirÉs of the BODY were
preſerved entire, both as to number and ſtipend : but as foon
as the Ceremony of the Coronation of king: James II. was per-
formed (1685), the Esquires were reduced to two (in common
with the CARVERS, SEWERS, and CUP-BEARERS) at which
number they continued during the life of king William III. with
whom the office expired.
1
I have the honour to be, SIR,
i
With great reſpect,
Your very obedient humble fervant,
SAMUEL Pegge.
:
POST
ESQUIRES of the King's Body.
39
P O S T SCRIPT.
THE Retrenchment of the year 1685, made ſo ſoon
after the Coronation of king James II. has occaſioned an error
in Sandford's Account of it. He mentions but two Esquires in
the printed Liſt of thoſe that walked in the proceſſion, but after-
wards in the Delineation he gives four. The caſe, I apprehend,
was thus: The drawings, of courſe, would be firſt made from
the proceedings of the day, ad vivum, when four ESQUIRES
actually walked; but, in the mean while, between that time
and the adjuſtment of the printed account, the reduction was
made. There was an interval of near two years before Mr.
Sandford's work appeared, and he had probably heard of the re-
duction, and altered his letter preſs upon the occaſion, forgetting
that he had given four ESQUIRES in the plate.
I muſt beg leave to add a ſecond poftfcript, to ſuggeſt that the
two * ESQUIRES of the Body to KING WILLIAM III. walked at
the Coronation of Queen ANNE, as ſervants of the demiſed KING,
and moſt probably enjoyed their ſalaries for life, though they
were not continued in office.
* The two laſt Officers of the Body ſeem to have been Sir Thomas Gran-
tham, Knt. and William Sydenham, Eſq. [See Chamberlayne's Preſ. State of
the
year 1694-]
Vs
܀
܀
: -
ܐ
ܐ
".
;
܀
[ 41 ]
CURIAL I A:
R
AN HISTORICAL AGCOUNT, &C.
:
DISSER TA THON II.
ON THE ORIGINAL NATURE DUTY, &c.
of the
G E N T E E M E N O P
TO NE KİNG'S
moft honourable
PŘI VY CH AM BER.
To the Preſident of the Society of Antiquaries, London,
SI RY
IO
N the courfe of the preceding differtation on the ESQUIRES
of the King's Body, I could not but obſerve ſome colla-
teral branches of the Royal Houſbold, which, as to their origi-
nal nature, are enveloped in an almoſt equal obſcurity, although
they are ſtill in being. There is indeed ſcarce an office in the
* Read at the Society of Antiquaries, May 11, 1780.
houthold
}
42 On the original Natart, Duty, &c. of the
houſhold at this day that carries with it much of it's primary
uſe and intention, and ſome officers, from deſuetude, have little
left but the name, and of theſe principally are the GENTLEMEN
of the PRIVY CHAMBER. From being antiently near and, I may
almoſt ſay, companionable officers to the Royal Perfon, they are
now become the moſt remote, and ſeldom viſible in their pro-
per fphere (and then ſcarce diſtinguiſhable as fuch) above thrice
in a reign. Two of theſe GENTLEMEN, chofen for their port,
are nominated by the lord chamberlain, and knighted (if not
knights *) to repreſent at Coronations the dukes of AQUITAINE
and NORMANDY ; an honour of the firſt magnitude, as it gives
them for the moment (repreſentatively) precedence of the
ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY. At the Coronation of KING
WILLIAM and. QUEEN MARY they took rank of GEORGE
PRINCE of DENMARK, although he had married the Queen's
Siſter. The prince walked only as a duke, being created duke of
Cumberland, &c. April 6, 1689, a few days before the Coronation,
with precedence of all dukes by act of parliament purpoſely
to give him a place and a proper rank on that folemnity : but
at the Coronation of QUEEN ANNE the PRINCE had rank above
the repreſentatives of the dukes of Aquitaine and Normandy as
the Confort of the Queen, and had his train borne . The dreſs
of theſe two on ſuch occaſions is ſumptuous, bordering on
royalty, their mantles being of crimſon velvet, lined with minever,
and powdered with ermine : their caps of cloth of gold furred
and powdered likewiſe with ermine 1. The reſt of the GENTLE-
MEN
* Knighthood is an indiſpenſable qualification, for at the laſt coronation (1761)
Sir Thomas Robinſon, who was appointed to one of theſe offices, was obliged to ac-
cept the honour of knighthood although he was a baronet,
+ See the ceremonials of coronations in the College of Arms.
Idem. There is a great overſight in Ogleby's Account of the Coronation of
King Charles II. He gives us in the copper-place of the proceſion on horſeback
what
!
:
-
A
GENTLEMEN of the King's PRIVY CHAMBER. 43
MEN of the Privy CHAMBER have now a place in the proceſſion
next below the Barons of the Exchequery, and above the King's
Serjeants at Law. Anciently they had a ſtill higher place; for at
the coronation of king Edward VI. the Gentlemen of the Privy
Chamber followed the canopy. immediately after the Affiftant
Train Bearer *
The ſecond occaſion when the GENTLEMEN of the Provy
CHAMBER appear in office is upon the Entry of Ambafadors from
Venice, a ceremonial of great cavalcade. The ſtate of Venice,
though it has always a reſident at our court, never ſends Ambaf
fadors but femel in regno, and that only in token of compliment
on an Acceffion. The principal in this Embally is always knight-
ed (for which the cuſtomary fees are remitted) and beſides being
preſented with a ſword of great value (ſuppoſed to be that with
which he is knighted) he receives, as an augmentation to his
arms, ſome part of the armorial bearings of the King of Great
BRITAIN, placed in chief upon his family coat, ſeveral grants
of which made at different times are to be found in the Herald's
Office it. The account of the Entrée of theſe. Ambaſadors,, in the
year 1763, may be ſeen at large in the Gazette of the 30th of
April in that year; where it will appears that fix of thefe Gen-
TLEMEN attended their ExceLLENCIES on every official occaſion,
from their landing at the Tower, to their audience of leave.
The ſame ceremony was formerly common to all ambaſſadors
of equal rank, though it is now in other caſes diſcontinued and
from Sir. John Finett's Philoxenis it appears to have been in ge,
what he ſtyles two perſons repreſenting the DUKES of AQUITAINE and NORMANDY
without any further diſcrimination : but in the printed account of it, and in the
proceſſion on foot, he has omitted them.
* Addenda to Leland's Collectanea, vol. IV. p. 324.
See the Earl Marſhal's Book, V. alſo Finett's Philoxenis, p. 113:
4
neral
.
1
44 On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
peral uſe in the reign of king James I. An ambaſſador from
the emperor of Morocco to king Charles I. 1637. was attended
to his audience by twelve GENTLEMEN of the Privy CHAMBER,
“ riding on brave horſes with foot-cloths ;" a printed account
of which Ceremonial may be ſeen in the Muſeum.
As this is the only ſolemn entrée now in uſe, I ſhall beg leave
to inſert the account at large in the Appendix (N° I.) from the
Gazette, whence it will be diſcerned how far the Gentle-
Men of the PrEY CHAMBER are employed in it; and I
the rather do it, as I truſt the repetition of it is at a great dif-
tance.
The laſt publick appearance of the GENTLEMEN of the PRIVY
CHAMBER is on a very different and oppoſite occaſion, viz. on a
demiſe of the King or Queen, when, at the funeral, they bear
the canopy over the royal CORPSE. This line of their duty may
probably extend to the heir apparent, or preſumptive heir; and
forinerly it certainly went to remoter branches of the royal fa-
mily; though at preſent the bearing the canopy over the
younger and collateral relatives to the crown has fallen into dif-
ferent hands occaſionally * The duty, however, of theſe GEN-
TLEMEN till towards the cloſe of the laſt century went ſtill fure
ther; for they had not only the honour of ſupporting the canopy,
but ſome of them had the office of carrying the Body, in
qua-
lity of Under-bearers. Thus it appears from the ceremonials in
the office of arms, that on the following occaſions when twelve
GENTLEMen of the Privy CHAMBER bore the CANOPY eighteen
* In the caſe of an Heir Apparent, or prefumptive Heir, I conceive the office
would reſt with the GENTLEMEN of the King's Privy CHAMBER, where the
party has not an eſtabliſhment. The late Prince of WALES (Frederick] having an
houſhold, the canopy at his funeral was borne by sight of his own ſervants.
N. B. He had no Gentlemen of his Privy Chamber.
more
.
.
1
GENTLEMEN of the King's PRIVY CHAMBER. 45
.
1
more of them carried the Body, viz. At the Funeral of Henry
Duke of GLOUCESTER (the 4th Son of K. Ch. I.) 1660-of the
PRINCESS Dowager of ORANGE 1660—and of the Queen Dow-
ager of BOHEMIA 1661. The Body of K. CHARLES II. was
intended to have been carried by theſe Gentlemen *, but the Cofm
fin was too heavy, and required men of more robuſt habits, when
the Yeomen of the Guard were called in, who have ever ſince per-
formed that Office. This however was not the firſt time the Yeo-
men were employed in that Duty; for twelve of them carried the
Body of their Inſtitutor K. HENRY THE SEVENTH to his Grave ut.
Ar the Funeral of his late Majeſty K. GEORGE the Second ten
of the GENTLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER bore the CANOPY,
one at each of the Eight Staves, and two at each Head-Staff; and
had every of them an allowance of black Cloth for Mourning,
which iſſued from the Great Wardrobe by Warrant from the
Lord Chamberlain I.
As no ſalary or pecuniary emolument whatſoever attends the
poft at preſent, it may be aſked why it is ſo much fought after
The anſwer is very eaſy, and almoſt in omnium ore-It is an ex-
emption from ſerving the Office of Sheriff, &c. There iſſues at
the commencement of every reign an inhibitory Proclamation,
* Funeral Ceremonials in the Office of Arms.
+ Addenda to Leland's Collectanea, Vol. IV. p. 305.
The ſupporters of the Canopy on the demiſe of collateral branches of the
Royal Family, when naval or military honours are not paid to the deceaſed, are
ſtill in part taken out of an inferior Line of the PRIVY CHAMBER : for at the
funeral of PRINCE FREDERICK-WILLIAM, the preſent King's BROTHER, and
of the PRINCESS LOUISA-Anne his Majeſty's SISTER, the Bearers of the Canopy
were the four GROOMs of the PRIVY CHAMBER and the four ſenior GENTLE-
MEN USHERS QUARTERLY WAITERS. The Canopy over the body of EDWARD
late DUKE of YORK was borne by VICE-ADMIRALS, and that over WILLIAM late
Duke of CUMBERLAND by GENERAL OFTICERS. [See Funeral Ceremonials in
the office of Arms.]
G
to
1
46
On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
to prevent the appointment of any of the royal ſervants to
publick offices, which implies, among the reſt, the Shrievalty of
a County; and the GENTLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER being
fworn fervants of the KING (though without ſalary or conſtant
Duty) are of courſe included in ſuch prohibition *. It has often,
happened, that a GENTLEMAN of the PrivY CHAMBER, has
been returned to the Council, and been pricked (as the term is)
for Sheriff; but, I believe, it has been as often ſuperſeded by a
new appointment, and the party, by order of council, diſcharged.
A particular caſe happened (anno 1761) with regard to Sir Wil-
liam Hart, Knt. who was elected Sheriff of London againſt his
confent, and pleaded, as an exemption, that he was a GENTLE-
MAN of the PrivY CHAMBER ; but his caſe came neither within
the letter nor the ſpirit of the proclamation : for though the She-
riffs of London are conſolidated, quatenus MIDDLESEX, and act
provincially as one man, yet being elective by the Livery of Lon-
đon, Sir William Hart could not come within the royal intention ;
nothing but a civildiſability could diſcharge him, and his Plea of
courſe was over-ruled.
The preſent appointment of a GENTLEMAN of the. PŘIVY
CHAMBER runs in general terms, viz. “ To have, hold, exer-
“ ciſe, and enjoy, the ſaid place, together with all rights, pro-
“ fits, privileges, and advantages thereunto belonging,. in as full
“ and ample manner as 'any GENTLEMAN of his MAJESTY'S
6. MOST HONOUR ABLE PRIVY CHAMBER doth or hath held and
enjoyed, or of right ought to hold and enjoy the ſame.?
Theſe are the words as they ſtand at this day; but anciently the
rights and privileges were deſcribed at large, and in an appoint-
ment anno 1662 (the 14th of King Charles the Second) are thus
* See the Appendix (No. II.]--This is inſerted for the information of ſuch of
the Royal Servants into whole hands theſe papers may falls that they may be apprized of
the Immunities incidental to their Offices,
.
$
GENTLEMEN of the King's PriyY CHAMBER.
47
i
ſet forth. “ His perſon is not to be arreſted or detained without
*6 leave firſt had and obtained-neither is he to bear any publick
Office, nor to be impannelled on any Inqueſt or Jury—or to
66 be warned to ſerve at Afizes or Selfions, whereby he may
« pretend excuſe to neglect his MAJESTY's ſervice." This points
immediately at an exemption from the Shrievalty of a county,
where the nomination is in the King-and the reaſon is given
for the diſpenfation.
Such is the preſent itate of this Body of 48 Gentlemen of
Rank and Fortune, who, it is natural to ſuppoſe, had, in their
primary inſtitution, more official attendance, and ſalaries in com-
mon with the reſt of the ſervants upon the Royal Establiſh-
ment; for the purpoſe of diſcovering which circumſtances we
muſt revert to times when the officers of the court were confined
to the functions for which they were originally appointed.
The moſt ancient mention of them that I have been able to
find (though under a different denomination) is in the Liber
Niger Domûs Regis Angliæ (Temp. Edw. IV.) which is ſuf-
ficiently explicit to ſhew the true intent of their inſtitution.
They were called Eſquires of Houſhold, with duty, falary, &c.
and their nature and office is thus deſcribed :
« SQUIRES of HOUSHOLD, FORTY or more, if it pleaſe the
< King, by the advice of his high council to be choſen, men of
“ their poſſeſſion, worſhip, and wiſdom: alſo to be of fundry Shires,
" by whom it may be known the diſpoſition of the counties
66 And of theſe to be continually in this court twenty SQUIRES
si attendant upon the KING's perfon, in riding, and going at all
s6 times, and to help ſerve his table from the ſurveying board,
" and from other places, as the Afewar + will aſſign ; and
1
* From hence it appears, that theſe officers were from the beginning gentlemen
of fortune, education, and weight, in their reſpective places of reſidence.
of That is, the Sewer, whoſe office is to place the diſhes on the table,
66 when
G 2
***
.
8
On the original Nature, Duty, &c, of the
48
* when any of them be preſent in court he is allowed for daily
“ wages in the Cheque Roll ſeven pence half-penny * and cloath-
" ing winter, and ſummer, or elſe forty ſhillings. It hath ever
“ been in ſpecial charge to Squires in this court to wear the
* King's Livery conſtantly, for the more glory and in worſhip
“ of this honourable houſhold: 'and every of them to have in
" this court an honeſt ſervant, and ſufficient livery in the towns
" or countries for their horſes, and other ſervants, by the her-
berger. Two GENTLEMEN (are) lodged together : they be
coupled Bed-fellows by the Gentlemen Uſhers. And if any of
- theſe Squires be ſent out of court by Steward, Treaſurer,
s or Comptroller, or other of the Counting-houſe, for matter
touching the houſhold, then he hath daily allowed him twelve
“pence by petition. They take no part of the general gifts,
s neither with chamber, nor with hall; but if the giver give
16 them fpecially a part, by expreſs name or words to None
" of
I
year, and
4
* This we have already ſeen was the pay of an Eſquire in the Houſhold. [v. the
preceding Diſſertation, p. 13.] but we have not obſeryed, that at this period the
pay of the Houſhold Servants was not only calculated by the day ; but was uniform,
according to the rank of the party, without any diſcrimination of office. Thus
when every EsQUIRE had ſeven pence half-penny per diem, every YEOMAN had three
pence, and every GROOM Forty Shillings by the
every
Page twenty-fix
Shillings and right-pence by the year. Theſe two laft, if taken per diem, would run
into
very
ſmall fra&ions, and therefore perhaps were generally conſidered in the
groſs. By theſe means however the ſervants were eaſily chequed for negligence,
or non-attendance in the two firſt inſtances : for after a reprimand for the firſt
offence, the loſs of wages for a certain number of days was annexed to the ſecond;
impriſonment and ſometimes corporal puniſhment to the third; and the fourth car-
ried with it abſolute expulfion. (See the Ordinances of king Edward IV. of the
year 1478.] The intermediate title of Gentleman, between the Eſquire and the
Yeoman, was hardly then known in this official line.
+ General Gifts at that period, I preſume, meant New Year's Gifts; which after-
wards might extend to fees, and pecuniary douceurs, given upon creations, homage,
Anighthood, &c. now called Fees of Honour. As to the laſt of theſe, Droits, an intru-
fion
- -
*
í
GENTLEMEN of the King's Privy CĦAMBER.
46.2
6c of theſe ſhould depart from court but by licence of Steward;
“ Treaſurer, or Sovereigns of the Counting-boufe, that know how
" the King is accompanied beſt: and to take a day when they
« ſhould come again, upon pain of loſs of wages at his next
coming. Theſe ESQUIRES of HOUSĦOLD. of old be accuf--
s tomed, winter and ſummer, in afternoons and in evenings, to.
66 draw to Lords Chambers within court, there to keep honeſt
6 company after their cunning, in talking of Chronicles of
6 KINGs, and of other Policies, or in piping, or barping, fong-
« ings, or other acts marviables, to help to occupy the court, and
" to accompany ſtrangers till the time require departing *."
TheRank ofthefe ESQUIRES OF HOUSHOLD, was, as to the younger
fons of Bannerets and Knights Bachelors, collateral with that of
the Esquires of the BODY ; but between themſelves the ſupe-.
riority refted with the former, as appears from Coronations,
where they both made a part in the proceſſion. In the privy--
chamber, however, the GENTLEMEN ſeem to have been rather ſub-
ordinate even to the Gentlemen Uſhers; for they were not only ſworn
to obey the Gentlemen Uhers in all things reſpecting the King's
ſervice; but were called upon to take their places in caſe of ab-
fence. Thus the Orders of King Charles II. ſay, that “ When
“ no Gentleman Uſher ſhall be there to wait, the eldeſt” (or the: -
fenior) “GENTLEMAN of the Privy CHAMBER in waiting ſhall
o officiate the place in all things till one of the Gentlemen. Uſpers;
*
fion took place in the reign of KING PHILIP and QUEEN MARY; for I find that:
in the year 1554, upon the making of ſeveral Knights, the GENTLEMEN of the
PRIVY CHAMBER extorted a fee of 1.35. 4d. “ the which," ſays my authority,
was never had before.” [Bibl. Harl. N. 6064, fol. 76.] As this was the firſt
time that ſuch Peculation was attempted, kmuſt do the GENTLEMEN of the Privy.
CHAMBER the juſtice to ſay that it ſeems to have been the laſt.
* KING Henry VI. had twelve KNIGHTS of his Chamber,.fox.to be always re-
ſiding in the court, and eight ESQUIRES of his Chamber, one of which was to
perform the office of Sewer in the CHAMBER.
I
" fhall.
*
50 On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
"*
CS
or
- Thall come, both in going before Us in the Privy Lodgings arid
carrying the candle in the abſence of our LORD and Vice
" CHAMBERLAIN.” This implies a local inferiority, and thews
that theſe GenTLEMEN were then an intermediate official cha-
racter between the Gentlemen Uſhers and the Grooms *
KING Edward the Fourth had, beſides theſe ESQUIRES of
houſhold, Twelve or more Knights of houſhold of the degree
of KNIGHTS BACHELORS, four of whom attended at a time
upon the King's perſon, whofe office was proviſional ; viz.
as the Liber Niger ſays" to ſerve the KING of his bafon,
ſuch other ſervice as they may do the King in abſence of
“ the Carvers." This appears to be the ſubſtance of their duty;
and they had.Bouche of Court, and other allowances, with a fee
of ten marks yearly. They ſeem to have been of a collateral na-
ture with the ESQUIRES of HOUSHOLD, though not ſo much
about the royal perſon, and, from their rank as Knights, muſt
be accounted fuperior officers, though their ſalary was not ſo
great, ten marks being but £.6 135. 4d. whereas ſeven pence half
penny per diem (which we have ſeen was the Esquire's Pay,)
amounts to £ 11. 8s. i{d per Annum.
At what period their title was changed from ESQUIRES of
HOUSHOLD to that of GENTLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER
does not appear; but I conceive it to have been in the reign of
KING Henry the Seventh, or early in the reign of KING
HENRY the Eighth; for they were called Esquires of HOUSHOLD
Temp. Ric. III. i and in the Eltham Statutes (1526) GENTLE.
MEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER.
* The GENTLEMEN were likewiſe ſworn “not to depart the diſtance of twelve
" miles from the court without licenſe of the KING or of the Gentlemen Uhers.”
Here I preſume the abſenće of the Lord and Vice Chamberlain is implied. The
orm of this oath, as it was adminiſtered in the firſt year of Queen Elizabeth, is
printed in the Antiquarian Repertory, Vol. II. p. 195.
+ Bibl. Harl. N. 433. fol. 38.
FROM
?
...
GENTLEMEN of the King's Privy CHAMBER,
51.
FROM hence, Sir, we may diſčern, that theſe ESQUIRES OF
HOUSHOLD, afterwards called GENTLEMEN of the Privy CHAM-
BER, were not merely oſtenſible characters; but had conſtant atten-
dance upon the ROYAL Person in that Chamber, and were likewiſe
employed in confidential offices without doors, as occaſion re-
quired. They had Wages and Diet, Livery from the Wardrobe
(or. money by way of compoſition for it) and Herbigage for their
Horſes both in town and country. Thus is this now quieſcent
body in motion, and will not become ſtationary, till towards
the cloſe of the laſt century..
WHETHER the Salaries of theſe GENTLEMEN were firſt encreaſed
about the reign of King Richard III, together with thoſe of
the ESQUIRES of the Body, I will not preſume to determine * :
but I find their Number reduced to 18, and their Salaries en-
larged to £50. per Annum each, at the making of the Eltham
Statutes Temp. Hen. VIII. (1526) where they are ſtyled Gen-
TLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER.. Stowe calls them, in his
account of the marriage of Queen ANNE [Bulleyne], and in his
deſcription of the Coronation of King Charles I. ESQUIRES of
HONOUR, which is a very warrantable as well as reſpectable
appellation ; for we retain the irame of Page of Honour, at
this day, to diſtinguiſh ſuch Pages who attend the Person, from
thoſe who belong to any particular branch of the houſhold.
The two youngeſt of theſe GENTLEMEN of the Privy.CHAM-
BER (for ſo we muſt henceforth call them) had indeed in the
Reign of K. Henry VIII. But Fifty marks (or £33. 6s. 8d.): for
which piece of qeconomy no reaſon appears, unleſs they were extra-
ordinary and added, for the purpoſe of completing the rota which
conſiſted of Six upon duty at a time. The intention of mak-
ing: the. Eltham Statutes was a retrenchment, as well as a re-
--
* See the preceding Diſſertation, P. 32.
gulation
-52 On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
40 or
i
gulation. If we may be at liberty then to ſuppoſe that the num-
ber of theſe GenTLEMEN was found to be 48 at the acceſſion of
King Henry VIII. (for the number we have ſeen was
more, if it pleaſed the King”') and that the idea was to re-
duce them to a third part, the reſult will be fixteen, which,
not being diviſible by three, two ſupernumeraries might then
be added to them to make a rota of Six, who were glad te
accept inferior ſalaries, with a reverſionary expectation. This
at the ſame time may ſerve to account for the ſpecific ſum of
£33.65.-8d. to the two youngeſt, it being the then falary of
the ESQUIRES of the BODY,
Such as we find them in the Time of K. Hen. VIII, they con-
tinued to be (both as to number and ſalary) during the following
reign. The Statutes of Eltham ſay, as to their duty, that fix
wait at a time, to be ready, at the KING's riſing, “ to apparel
* his Highneſs, putting on ſuch garments in reverend, diſcreet,
*66 and ſober manner, as it ſhall be his Highneſs's pleaſure to wear.
We have before obſerved in the preceding differtation that the
King ſeems to have been looſely attired in his Bed-chamber by
the Eſquire of the Body, and afterwards to have in a great mea-
ſure finiſhed his-dreſſing in his Privy Chamber, as will appear
clearly from the Statutes of Eltham which are very full and
circumſtantial in theſe particulars, and ſay, “ That the King's
* Doublet, Hofe, Shoes, or any other Garment, which his pleaſure
*** Thall be to wear from day to day (the Gown only excepted) ſhall
6 be honeſtly and cleanly brought by the Yeoman of the Ward-
-66 robe of the Robes to the King's Privy Chamber door, without
-€ entering into the ſame, where one of the Grooms ſhall receive
" the ſaid Garments and Apparel bringing and delivering the fame
.6 to one of the ſaid fix GENTLEMEN to be miniſtered to the
“ King's perſon as ſhall ſtand with his pleaſure.” The excep-
tion of the Gown naturally creates a queſtion not eaſily ſolvable;
but
+
-
GENTLEMEN of the King's Privy CHAMBER.
53
but I conjecture that it was either reſerved to be put on in the
Bed-chamber by the Groom of the STOLE, or if it was put on at
all in the Privy-chamber, that it was done by ſome perſon of
higher degree who was preſent, or called upon for the purpoſe,
as it was the cuſtom of the times for the KING to be ſerved in
many inſtances, according to the language of that age, by the
greateſt eſtate * preſent at the time. It is further ordained by
theſe ſtatutes, “ that two of the ſaid fix GentLEMEN ſhall
nightly lie on the pallet within the King's ſaid Privy Cham-
“ ber of. That the ſaid fix Gentlemen ſhall have a vigilant and
“ a reverend reſpect and eye to his MAJESTY, fo that by his
6 look or countenance they may know what he lacketh, or is
“ his pleaſure to be had or done:" and further, “ That divers
6 of them be well languaged, expert in outward parts, and
“ meet, and able to be ſent on familiar meſſages, or otherwiſe,
6 to outward princes when the cauſe ſhall require."
SOME of theſe GenTLEMEN for ſeveral ages attended the
King when he took a journey or went on a progreſs. Thus,
though K. Henry VIII. went incog. to Rocheſter to viſit the
Princeſs Anne of Cleves the day before her publick reception,
he took with him eight of theſe GENTLEMEN, and the whole
body attended at the interview on horſeback; and again, when
K. CHARLES I. went to receive MARY DE MEDICIS, the mo-
ther of his Queen HENRIETTA, at Mulſham Hall, in Efex, the
* It was anciently a general rule that the King was to be ſerved in all things
by the greuteſt eſtate (or perſon) preſent at the tiine, notwithſtanding there were
officers appropriated to each ſeveral duty; and that ſuch their duty in a manner
devolved upon the officer for want of perſons of greater rank. This idea is not
quite vaniſhed, for when the King dipes at an inſtallation of KNIGHTS of the
order of the GARTER, his MAJESTY is ſerved by Noblemen in quality of Carver,
Cup-bearer, and Sewer, and not by Gentlemen who are officially fuch.
+ See before, where two of the ESQUIRES of HOUSHOLD are ſaid to have been
46 coupled Bed-fellows by the Gentleman Ujer."
H
ſeat
+
*
54 On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
ſeat of Sir – Mildmay, he was attended by ſeveral GENTLEMEN
of his PRIVY CHAMBER *.
The dignity of the office of theſe Gentlemen, when fent
in the King's name, was unhappily exemplified in the caſe
of Cardinal WOLSEY, who was himſelf the fabricator of theſe
very ſtatutes. The well-known ſtory of his ſurrender to one of
them is briefly this: The King's commiſſion was granted to
the Earl of Northumberland, to arreſt the Cardinal for High
Treaſon; to which the Cardinal refuſed to ſubmit himſelf, with-
out ſeeing the King's Commiſion, which the Earl declined
ſhewing, as it contained ſome inſtructions not proper to be
ſeen by the intended priſoner : but when Sir Walter Walſh en-
tered the apartment, the Cardinal ſurrendered himſelf to him,
ſaying, “ You are a ſufficient Commiſſioner in this behalf,
being One of the Privy Chamber it."
To return; Sir, to the domeſtic offices of theſe GENTLEMEN.
The King, no doubt, often converſed freely with them; for
they are cautioned in the ftatutes of Eltham not to avail them-
felves of that condeſcenfion, by « making ſuits to his Grace, ,
6 or intermedling in cauſes and matters, otherwiſe than they
« Ihall be commanded, that it might appear to the King's
* See the account of this Queen's Entrée by Mr. La Serre, printed at London,
1639, and re-printed 1775. p. 22. Mr. Puget de la Serre was Hiſtoriographer
to the Queen Mother of France. [v. Le vray Eflat de la France, printed at
Paris 1652. p. 96.]
+ Cavendiſh's Life of Cardinal Wolſey. This was the language of the times,
for Sir Robert Carey, afterwards Earl of Monmouth, ſpeaking of Mr. William
Killegrew (who was one of theſe GENTLEMEN in the reign of Queen Elizabeth,
calls him, “ One of the Privy Chamber.” (Memoirs, p. 102.] Lord Herbert
plainly underſtood this mode of ſpeaking; for he expreſſly makes the Cardinal call
Sir Walter Walſh " GENTLEMAN of the PRIVY CHAMBER.” (Life of K. Hen. VIII.
p. 340.]
“honour,
*
GENTLEMEN of the King's Privy CHAMBER. 55
“ honour, that he had choſen ſuch well qualified, mannered,
and elect perſons to be attendant on his Royal Perſon."
At this period, when the attendance was ſo cloſe, and the
confinement ſo great, the fix GENTLEMEN of the Privy Cham-
ber, on duty, were dieted in the Privy Chamber, after the King
had withdrawn to his ſtill more retired apartment, and were
ſerved, together with the two Gentlemen Ushers in wait-
ing, with “ two Meſſes of Meat *, well and ſubſtantially fur-
“niſhed, to be dreſſed by the cooks of the Privy Kitchin,'
that is, the King's own kitchin ; and the reaſon is given in the
ſtatutes why theſe Officers did not eat in common with the reſt
of the houſhold, “ for as much," ſay they, " as it is not con-
66 venient that any time certain ſhall be prefixed for the King's
“ going to dinner or ſupper.". Theſe GentLÉMEN, from the
reign of King Edward IV. (at leaſt) till after the Reſtoration,
ſerved the King's board with meat, and were to do other
ſervices occaſionally, as appears from Liber Niger--the Eltham
Statutes--and the Houſhold Ordinances of King Charles I. and
King Charles II.,
So rigid was the confinement of the GenTLEMEN of the
Privy CHAMBER in their tours of Duty in the reign of KING
Henry VIII. that they had very little relaxation from buſineſs,
and none from attendance. All the indulgence permitted them
was, that at ſuch time as the King avoided the room, they
were allowed, by the ſtatutes, to play at Dice, Cards, Cheſs, and
Tables in the Privy CHAMBER, during the King's abſence,
* By a Meſs of Meat (though with ſome exceptions in later times, as appears by
ordinances of K. James I.) is generally meant four perſons : ſo that in this caſe
the fix GENTLEMEN of the PrivY CHAMBER, and the two GENTLEMEN USHERS
would form two Mefjes. In ſome economical arrangements of K. James I. they
ran fix to a Meſs, in certain caſes : [v. Bibl. Harl. No. 642.) though four was the
ſtandard, and thus the Meſſes remain in our Inns of Court at this day.
with
H 2
---
$
1
!
56
On the original Nature, Dury, esti of the
with a cauţios againſt the intemperate uſe of them, and with
an injunction to defift as ſoon as they had knowledge of the
King's approach, that they might be “ reverently attendant on
“ on him at his entry, as to the office of good, reverend, and
*" humble fervants dath appertain.”
BEFORE I quit this, reign, I would obſerved that six of theſe
GENTLEMEN bore the Canopy at the Chriſtening of KING
EDWARD VI. but to prevent miſconception, I would likewife
obſerve that this does not appear to have been a right of office;
for at the Chriſtening of PRINCE ARTHUR (the eldeſt ſon of King
Henry VII.) the Canopy was borne by indifferent perfonis who
had no claim by office; and at the Chrifening of the PRINCESS
MARY his daughter, it was born by four Bannerets *.
DURING the ſhort reign of K. Edw. VI. one may fuppofe
the houſhold, which was left fo well regulated by K. Hen. VIII.
did not receive any material alteration : but upon the accellion
of Q. Mary. it is natural to imagine the face of things would
change in the interior apartments, and that a QUEEN REGENT
ſhould adopt Ladies in lieu of Gentlemen in her chamber of re-
tirement.
AGREEABLE to this, we find that Her Majeſty's board (which
was always in the Privy Chamber) was ſerved by LADIES and
GENTLEWOMEN: the Cup was given by one GENTLEWOMAN,
and another had the charge of the Copboard: the offices of Carvers
and Uſers indeed were performed by GentLEMEN; all which
appears from a MS. account left by Mr. Norris, one of her
Majeſty's Gentlemen Uſhers *. Notwithſtanding this revolution
in the arrangement of the PrivY CHAMBER, the GENTLEMEN
in queſtion were ſo far from being diſcharged, that they were
preſerved entire both in number and ſalary, there being (by
* Addenda to Leland's Collectanea, vol. IV. p. 254.
+ Of which I have a tranſcript.
Mr.
i
1
--
.
A
ܪ
GentĻEMEN af te King's Privy CHAMBER. 57
Mr. Norris's account) always ane at least of that body is wait-
ing, who was either to attend the CHAMBER, or to leave
6 word with the Gentleman Uther : where he thall bave bim,
« if the Queen at any time ſhall call for one of them to fend
any where, or any elſe ber Highnefs's pleafure." The office
was at this time in fach high eftimation, that, in the first year
of the Queen, we find, among the eighteen GENTLEMEN of the
Privy CHAMBER, John (Dudley) duke of Northumberland,
lord Robert [Dudley] his ſon, afterwards earl of Leiceſter, and
William (Herbert] earl of Pembroke ; and all the reft, excep-
ting two, were knights * As to the LADIES of the PRIVY:
CHAMBER, I ſhall have occaſion to mention them again here-
after ; but before I quit this period, I would obſerve that the
GENTLEMEN of the Privy CHAMBER', in common with the
Gentlemen Uders of the ſame room, were allowed by K. Hen. VIII.
annually den yards of velvet each for a Cloak; and at the corona-
tion of K. Edw. VI. they had (as had the Gentlemen Uzbers) cer-
tain yards (the quantity is left indefinite) of crimſon velvet for
Gowns, and certain yards of tinſhey (tiffúe) to line them to
This, I preſume, was not the firſt, nor the laſt time of their
having fuch allowances from the wardrobe, though I have as
yet found no further traces of it.
IF is no wonder that we do not meet with LADIES of the
PRIVY CHAMBER antecedent to this period; for it muſt be
conſidered, that QUEEN MARY was the firſt Queen REGENT
that fat upon the throne. Her houſhold was not only the ſame
* See a liſt of Queen Mary's houſhold (as it is called) in the library of your
Society : though perhaps it might more properly be termed the HOUSHOLD as it
Atood on the Queen's Acceflion ; becauſe the Duće of Northumberland was executed
within little more than a month after her Majeſty was proclaimed QUEEN.
+ This appears from a MS. account of part of the duty of a Gentleman Uſher,
.Jeft by Sir Richard Blount, who was in that office in the reign of K. Edw. VI.
in.
!
"?
58
On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
in every reſpect with that of a KING, but more enlarged in this
particular branch, becauſe the preſerved the GENTLEMEN, at
the ſame time that the adopted the LADIES, of the PRIVY
CHAMBER.
This department will be found in the ſame ſtate as to
its officers, both male and female, during the reign of Queen
ELIZABETH as it had been eſtabliſhed by her ſiſter Queen
Mary, which appears from a liſt of her houſhold, preſerved in
the Harleian Library, made about the year 1.593, now printed
in Peck's Deſiderata Curioſa *.
It may not be amiſs to obſerve here, that the LADIES of
the PRIVY CHAMBER were continued in after-reigns even by
Queens CONSORT, for I meet with them on the Queen's Side
in the reign of King JAMES f, K. Cha. I. I, and K. Cha. II. S;
and further, Queen HENRIETTA, on her return to England,
after the Reſtoration, retained four LADIES of her Privý
CHAMBER with ſalaries of 150£. per annum each ll. In this
laſt reign (of K. Cha. II.) I am alhamed to confeſs, that I find
Mrs. Eleanor Gwynne (better known by the name of Nell
Gwynne) among the Ladies of the PrivY CHAMBER to
Queen Catherine* This was bare-faced enough to be ſure !
Had the King made a momentary connection with a lady of that
denomination, the offence might have been connived at by the
Queen, but the placing one of the meaneſt of his creatures ſo
near the Queen's perſon, was an inſult that nothing could pal-
liate but the licenciouſneſs of the age, and the abandoned cha-
racter of that laſcivious monarch!
* Vol. I. p. 59. Edit. 1779.
+ Finett's Philoxenis.
Houſhold Ordinances.
§ Houſhold Ordinances.
|| Memoirs of her Life, printed at London, 1671.
** She was ſworn into that poſt 1675, as appears from the books in the Lord
Chamberlain's Office,
THE
1
..
GENTLEMEN of the King's PRIVY CHAMBER. 59
The reign of KING JAMES, THE First ſeems to have proved
fatal to the Salaries of the Gentlemen of the Privy CHAM-
BER, and to have left them nothing but the Honour, except dict
when in waiting. The king had enlarged the number from
eighteen to forty-eight, and the houſhold account of the year
1615 * ſays expreſſly, that they had no Fee or Allowance from
the King. This revolution, in disfavor of theſe officers may
I think very properly be attributed to this period, as there was
a great retrenchment in the ſecond year of this king; it is
however very clear that they had Salaries in the reign of
QUEEN ELIZABETH, and none after the reign of King JAMES.
Of this indeed I have no poſitive evidence, though there ſeems
to have been ample occafion for ſuch a ſtep, when we are told
by writers of unſuſpected authority, that the neceſſities, to
which his majeſty was reduced, were ſo great, that in the year
1606-7 (the fourth year of his reign) the officers of the bouſ-
bold were ſo importunate and clamorous, that they ſtopped the
Lord High Treaſurer (the Earl of Dorſet in the ſtreet, and
would not ſuffer his coach to proceed, 'till he had made them a
promiſe of payment t. The Prince of Wales (Prince Henry)
was in the ſame predicament; the purveyors, for want of pay-
ment, actually refuſing to furniſh his highneſs any longer with
proviſions, which occafioned his writing in harſh terms to the
Earl of Dorſet I
This Prince had the largeſt houſhold that perhaps ever was
eſtabliſhed for a PRINCE OF WALES, and amongſt the reſt of
his officers had GENTLEMEN of his PRIVY CHAMBER, both
ordinary and extraordinary, amounting in the groſs to full an
i
* In the College of Arms.
+ Dr. Birch's Life of Prince Henry, 8vo. p. 83.
Idem.
equat
60
On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
equal number with thoſe of the KING; but they likewiſe do not
appear to have had any Salary. From theſe circumſtances,
taken together, I am induced to conclude, as has been obſerved,
that the ſalaries were taken off early in the reign of King James
—from which time the office will appear to have been a poft
of Honour only.
NOTWITHSTANDING this defalcation in point of emolument,
the Duty of theſe GENTLEMEN was equal to what it had been
in every reſpect, and their attendance ſtrongly enforced by ore
dinances of houſhold of the reigns of king Charles I. and
Charles II. which are ſtill to be ſeen in the Lord Chambers
lain's office.
In this ſituation they could only be expe&tants, like the chap-
lains, and look for places of profit in reverfion; and indeed lu-
crative employments in the revenue departments, in embaſſies,
&c. they ſeem to have had a right to fill, after they had per-
haps played a loſing game by cloſe and expenſive attendance for
ſeveral years, accompanied with nothing but mere Honour, and
negative privileges.
We muſt now, Sir, proceed with our GENTLEMEN of the
PRIVY CHAMBER at a period when they might be more pro-
perly ſtyled, as Stowe calls them at this time, Eſquires of Ho-
nouř, having little more to boaſt of *. . Their number both in
the reign of King Charles Ift and King Charles IId was 48.
which ſeems to have been uniformly the eſtabliſhed comple-
ment from the time of King James, to this day; for as they
had nothing but diet of the KING, they were not diminiſhed
in number by retrenchments, which happened afterwards. Du.
ring theſe reigns they were called to ſuch rigid attendance,
as if their poſts had been more lucrative than ever.
66 The
“ GENTLEMEN of our Privy CHAMBER being: 48," ſay the
* King Charles I. created five of them Knights of the Bath on his coronation.
[Sec Anttis's Obſervations on the Order of the Bath, p.78.]
Ordinances
1
1
GENTLEMEN of the King's Privy CÀAMBÉR. 61
Ordinarices of Houſhold of both Reigns *, “ ſhall be divided to
* wait by their quarters, twelve in each quarter, and ſuch of
* them as ſhall not accordingly wait in their quarters, ſhall lofe
« their places, and others [be] ſworn in their places by our Lord
« Chamberlain.” Theſe Ordinances then preſcribe their Duty;
viz. “ That they attend diligently in our Privy CHAMBER,
« and expect notice of the Gentteman Uſher in waiting when we
are going abroad, and then to paſs through the Privy Galleries,
66 and attend us going out and coming“ in." Here the line of
their Eſcorte feems to have been drawn, though the artendance
of the Gentlemen Ubers of the Privy CHAMBER' went fome-
thing farther, as will appear hereafter. The interior office of
theſe GENTLEMEN within the Privy Chamber continued to be
the ſame as it originally had been in part'; viz. the bringing
in the King's meat to the board (when he dined there) and to
do other ſervices +. Two of the twelve in waiting were enjoined
to lodge every night in the PRIVY CHAMBER'; and the names of
the two, whoſe tour of duty it was to fleep there, were deli-
vered at the beginning of every week to the LORD CHAM-
BERLAIN, or Vice CHAMBERLAIN, by the Gentleman Upher.
During this reign they were employed in outward as well as
domeſtick ſervices, for when Mary de Medicis the Q. Dowager of
K. Hen. IV. of France, and mother of QUEEN HENRIETTA
Confort of K. Charles I. came to viſit her daughter, (1639,) the
King fent, among others, feveral GENTLEMEN of his Privý
CHAMBER to receive her on her landing, who were to affiſt in
conducting her to the Interview 4. This unfortunate King
was not bereft of theſe officers even in his impriſonment at
Holdenby-boufe in Northamptonſhire, though the greateſt part
* In the Lord Chamberlain's Office.
Houſhold Ordinances of theſe Reigns.
I L'Entrée of Mary de Medicis, by Mr, la Serre,
I
of
1
62 On the original Natare; Duty; &c. of the
of his ordinary ſervants were denied him,fix of the GENTLEMEN
of his Privy CHAMBER being permitted to attend him, who
were to officiate in various capacities, ſupplying (beſides their
own duty) the places of Carver, Sewer, Cup-bearer, and Eſquire
of the Body, by turns.*.
The following reign differed little from the laſt, with regard
to the parties in queſtion. The Houſhold of K. Charles II. had
certainly been conſiderably enlarged at his acceſſion; for in the
year 1667, a retrenchment took place, whereby all ſupernume-
rary officers and charges, other than ſuch as were in eſſe in
the reign of K. Charles I. were taken away t.
Tuis enlargement of the houſhold eftabliſhment did not,
however, reſtore the GENTLEMEN of the Privy CHAMBER to
their Salaries; for in a parchment roll of the KING’s ſervants,
made 1660 , it is ſaid,, in marginal notes (which run through
the whole that they had anciently 50l. per annum, but then
only diet when in waiting.
It has been ſaid, that in the reign of King Hen. VIII. thefe
Gentlemen dined (together with the Gentlemen Uhers.) in the
Privy CHAMBER, after the King had avoided it, and had with :
drawn to his interior apartments; but that was not the caſe at
this period, and it ſeems to have been a diſcontinuance of ſome
ſtanding; for I find that the officers of the Privy Chamber, of
every denomination, dined, together with ſeveral other officers,
at a table called the Waiters ·Table, which was regulated by the
ordinances of theſe two laſt reigns, wherein it is called a Ratifi-
cation of ancient Orders. This made was, I think, moſt proba.
bly adopted on the acceſſion of QUEEN MARY, when the intro-
* Peck's Defiderata Curioſa, Vol. II. p. 372. Edit. 1779.
+ Lord Chamberlain's Office-books.
In the Lord Chamberlain's Office.
duced
.
į
1
GENTLEMEN of the King's PRIVY CHAMBER. 63
duced LADIES of her PRIVY CHAMBER. It is to be obſerved
here, that eight GENTLEMEN of the Privy CHAMBER only
were permitted to dine at this Table, though twelve were en-
joined to be every day in waiting, which I conceive muſt have
been the effect of the retrenchment we have mentioned 1667;
for thefe orders of houſhold were evidently made after the year
1668, as they include officers, whoſe places were not erected till
that year. The Ordinances of K. Charles II. were only an en
larged edition of thoſe of his father K. Charles I.; and though
it was auctior, yet I cannot ſay it was emendatior with regard to
the GENTLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER : but the deciſive
blow, which reduced theſe GENTLEMEN to their preſent poſt
of Honour only, was mioſt probably the very great reductioia
in almoſt every branch of the royal houſhold, which took place
in the reign of K. James II. immediately after the demiſe of
K. Charles II. There was ſcarce an office (collectively ſpeaking)
however humble, that did not ſuffer at that time either in
number (whereby the duty to the ſurvivors was increaſed) or in
emoluments, and ſometimes in both ; and 'many branches were
entirely cut off. At this period, therefore, it is moſt probable,
that the GENTLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAMBER loft even' the
little privilege of the table;. but whether their Duty ceaſed at
that time I have not been able to diſcern, though it is moft
natural to imagine that their diurnal and nocturnal offices fell
together.
Since the Acceſſion of the Houſe of Hanover, the GENTLÉ-
Men do not ſeem to have been drawn forth into office (further
than has been ſhewn) except once at the Revival of the ORDER
OF THE BATH, on which occafion, when the KNIGHTS attend.
ed the King to the Chapel Royal on Eaſter Sunday (1726) the
Proceſſion was led by the GENTLEMEN of the Privy CHAM-
I 2
BER
>
64
On the original Nature; -Duty, &c. of the
BER *. This, however, was but a revocation to an ancient
Branch of their Duty; for it appears. from Ceremonials preſerved
in the College of Arms, that formerly they always made a part
of the Proceſſion to the Chapel Royal on Sundays and Feſtivals +.
If neceſſary we might go farther back; for, in an account of the
marriage of the Princeſs Mary daughter of K. Cha. I. with the
ſon of Frederick-Henry PRINCE of ORANGE (1641), the proceſ-
fion of the King to the chapel was led “ according to the many
ner obſerved upon Feſtivals” by GENTLEMEN of the PriyY
CHAMBER *.
WHETHER there is any CHAMBER in foreign Courts under
this particular appellation, I am not competent to fay; though
there ſeems to have been in ſome of them an apartment of a
privata nature, fimilar to our ancient Privy CHAMBER: for Mr.
Roger Afeham, who was ſecretary. to: Sir Richard; Moriſine, Am.
baffador to the EMPEROR CHARDES. V, tells us in. a, letter, dated
11551, that he faſt ſaw the EMPER ORL in his PRIX CHAMBER:
{v. Aſcham's Works, publiſhed by Bennett, p. 375.] and again,
when Mr. Afcham faw the PRINCE of SPAIN, he fays, it was
in bis. Privy CHAMBER. [Idem. p. 38.5..] This: chamber,
under whatever titte it went, anfwered to. Mr. Afcham's idea
of our. PRIVY CHAMBER, and was, doubtleſs, a retired, apart-
ment.
THERE feems, however, to have been a very ſimilar efta-
bliſhment in France, probably founded on our own, under the
denomination of 6 GENTLEMEN in: ordinary, of the King's
HOUSHOLD," who, if I can rely upon my authority, were at
firſt 48. in number, though they were afterwards reduced to
26. They appear to have been inſtituted by K. Henry H. and
* The number is left indefinite in the Ceremonial.
+ See the Chapter Books in Off. Arm. ſub annis 1673 & 1686.
Addenda to Leland's Collectanea, Vol. V. p. 345.
conſequently
t
:
..
GENTLEMEN of the King's PRIVY CHAMBER.
65
conſequently are of a modern date : for that King aſcended the
throne of France 1574, and was a co-temporary with our Q.
Elizabeth. The following are the leading features of their re-
femblance to our Gentlemen of the Privy CHAMBER-They
were to keep near the KING's Perfon, to receive his commands.
They were ſent on ſundry occaſions, not only into the provinces
of France, with the King's orders, but were ſometimes em-
ployed in negotiations with foreign princes.-They likewiſe car-
ried the King's compliments of Congratulation or Condolence,
&c. &c. I give this account on the faith of a Galliæ Notitia,
or Preſent State of France, tranſlated from the French by
R. Wolley *, A. M. and licenſed for the preſs in 1686-7, though
not printed till 1691.
Thrs, Sir, is all I have to offer on the Nature and Duty, &c.
of thefe GENTLEMEN;. now in ſuch great meaſure unem-
ployed; but I ſhall beg leave to trouble you with a few
words on the Privy CHAMBÉR itſelf (to which I have the
honour humbly to belong) fo oftén mentioned in this and the
preceding memoir.
THIS CHAMBER is always ſtyled 'HONOURABLE; but properly
fhould be called, as it is at preſent, MOST HONOUR ABLE *. - The
ſituation of it is (interiorly ſpeaking) next beyond the Preſence
chamber,
* It appears from the dedication, that' Mr. Wolley reſided ſeveral years in
France, in the family of Richard (Graham) Viſcount "Preſion, to whom the trant-
lation is inſcribed; ſo that the work ſeems to have been prepared for the preſs
before the Viſcount's attainder (1690), though publiſhed afterwards.
+ See before, p. 46. From this Title annexed to the Apartment, fome Gen.
FLEMEN of the Privy CHAMBER have been miſled to imagine they have a right
to be ſtyled HONOURABLE in their addreſs; but there ſeems to be no ground for
the preſumption. They are not ſo termed in their Warrants and Certificates. It
is the HONOURABLE House of COMMONS, collectively ſpeaking; but everv mem-
ber
1
-
66 On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
chamber, communicating with the ſtate Bed chamber through an
intermediate room, the proper name of which is the Withdraw-
ing room; for what we now call the Drawing room is a nouvelle
affaire-and the room made uſe of for the purpoſe is, properly
Speaking, the great Council chamber.
Council chamber. By this transfer, the origi-
nal idea of a withdrawing room is loft, and the intention to-
tally reverſed, in as much as that room, which' by its name
implied an apartment of ſtill greater retirement than even the
Privy chamber, is now become in fact the Chamber of Preſence,
and the Council room is uſed for the purpoſe, merely, I appre-
hend, on account of its amplitude. But let us obſerve what
was the etiquette of the Withdrawing room—even fo lately as in
the time of King Charles I. It appears from the Ordinancesof
that Reign above cited, that the Queen's Withdrawing room
was kept ſo facredly private, that no Counteſs or other Lady could
come into it without aſking leave - and even the Officers of the
Privy CHAMBER had not the fntrée, except it were to deliver
a meſſage to the Lord or Vice Chamberlain, or to the Queen in
their abſence *
"The Drawing-rooms, as we now call them, were introduced
on the acceſſion of King George II. and Queen CAROLINE,
and during the Queen's life were held every evening, when all
perſons, properly dreſſed, were admiſſible, and the Royal Family
.played at cards.' After the demiſe of the QUEEN, they were
continued but twice in a week, and in a few years the evening
ber of it has not individually a right to that affix to his name. I incline to
think, and
upon
good foundation, that theſe GENTLEMEN have been drawn into
the idea by The Preſent State of Great Britain publiſhed by John Chamberlayne,
Eſq. (1708), who ſays that King Henry VII. gave them this title--but the errors
and crudities of that and the reſt of thoſe compilations are innumerable.
* Houthold Ordinances of the year 1627.
5
Drawing
GENTLEMEN of the King's Privy CHAMBER,
67
-
Drawing-rooms were laid aſide, and the King kept his ſtate in a
morning twice every week as at preſent.
Levées are likewiſe of modern date ; for antiently the King
ſaw his courtiers--the ambaſſadors &c. for the moſt part in his
Presence CHAMBER, the room next without the Privy CHAM-
Ber. In this chamber of Preſence) the King occaſionally dined
in ſtate, during which, 10 perſon, not warranted by his office,
was permitted even to ſet his foot upon the haut-pas *. On
ordinary occaſions the King dined in his Privy CHAMBER, at-
tended by the officers of that room ; and afterwards, when he
choſe to be ſtill more private, retired to the Withdrawing room
ſituate as we have ſaid, between the Privy chamber and the Bed
chamber. This room was conſidered as a branch of the Bad!
chamber which had its own officers, the Gentlemen (now called
the Lords), the Grooms, and the Pages of the Bed chamber, and
the correſponding room at St. James's is called the little Draw:-
ing room to this day.
To return to the Privy CHAMBER. The Eltham Statutes, fo
often mentioned, fufficiently ſhew how facred this room was
kept in the reign of King Henry VIII. for they expreflly prohi-
acceſs to the King in his PRIVÝ CHAMBER by per“
fons not particularly named : for, ſay they, “ 10 perſon of
“ what eſtate, degree, or condition ſo ever he be, ſhall from
· henceforth preſume to attempt, or be in any wiſe ſuffered or
" admitted to come, or repair into the KING'S Privy CHÁM-
ber, other than ſuch as his Grace ſhall from time to time
66 call for, or command, except only the miniſters now deput-
" ed, or in lieu of them hereafter to be deputed for attendance
66 in the ſame." The fix GENTLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAM-
BER together with the other officers appertaining to that
bited any
* Ordinances of King Charles II.
roon
1
..
68 On the original Nature, Duty, &c. of the
room are likewiſe excepted. The privacy of this room may,
primâ facie, ſeemn to have been deſtroyed by the number of offi-
cers on continual duty in it, viz. the fix GENTLEMEN and the
two Gentlemen Uhers, beſides the Grooms and the Page: but it
is to be obſerved that they were ſworn 56 not to diſclofe any
os ſecret concerning the Royal Perſon or State, that they may
“o hear within the Privy Chamber *;" they were alſo cautioned,
and I preſume folemnly, “ to keep ſecret all ſuch things as
« ſhall be done or ſaid in the Privy-Chamber+."
AFTER the Reſtoration, the etiquette of the Privy CHAM-
BER was more relaxed; and many perſons were admitted ex af-
ficio who at that period, from the complexion of the times, were
found neceſſary. The buſineſs of the ſtate had encreaſed,
the military were in higher eſtimation, and it was proper to
countenance many gentlemen of rank and conſequence, though
not of quality, who had been friends to the King during his
exile: but, at the ſame time, not to trouble you with the words
themſelves, the ordinances of this reign exclude all - unknown
perſons.” At this time the King kept his court at White
hall. The diſpoſition of the rooms in all our royal palaces is
at preſent as nearly as poſſible the ſame, leading in a ſuite
through the Guard Chamber, (or more properly ſpeaking the
Great Chamber,) to the Preſence Chamber; from thence to the
Privy Chamber, and then through the Withdrawing Room to
the Bed Chamber; but there was at Whitehall two peculiar
branches of the Privy Chamber neceffary to be mentioned, viz.
the Privy GALLERY, and the Privy GARDEN I. The
PRIVY
* The words of the Dath Temp. Eliz. R. left by Drue Drury, a Gentleman
Uſher of that time, printed in the Antiquarian Repertory, Vol. II. p. 195.
+ Eltham Statutes,
I There was, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a Privy Garden at the Tower,
[6. a draught of the Tower Liberties made from a ſurvey 1597, from which
an
-
...--
----
!
L
GENTLEMEN of the King's Privy CHAMBER.
69
1
Privy GALLERY, as may be collected from the Ordinances of
King Charles HI. led over the arch of Holben's Gate from whence
there was a deſcent by ſteps immediately into the Park *. Part
of this Gallery was accounted as Privy. CHAMBER, which part
is deſcribed in theſe Ordinances to be the ſpace between “ the
66 ſecond door from the Park; at the paffage over the ſtreet, to
(.. the door of the. Ante-Room to the Bed: Chamber (which
was) towards the water fide.” At this ſecond door within
the GALLERY was a Gallery. Keeper, to let in ſuch perſons as
were qualified to enter, and to exclude all others at his peril.
The Privy Garden was likewiſe accounted as. Privy CHAM-
BER; for the Ogdįnances of King Charles II. expreſsly fay,
" That the Pring Garden be obſerved in all particulars as
5 our Privy LODGINGS, concerning the ſervice to be perform-
" ed. there by the Gentlemen Uhers of our PålýY CHAMBER.
A Gentleman Uſher attended the King when he walked in this
Garden—not fo the GENTLEMEN of the Privy CHAMBER,
their duty, extending, rio farther than the domeſtic
. limits of the
Privy CHAMBER, as they only attended the King at his going;
out and coming in to
an engraving has been publiſhed by your society.] The Queen had likewiſe both:
a Privy Gallery and a Privy Gardex at Nonſuch. (of which ſee a deſcription in
your Archaeologia, Vol. V. p. 429.)" "There'is, or was, likewiſe a Privy Garden
at Hampton Court. [See Bibțiotheca Topographica Britannica publiſhed by
John Nichols 1781. No. II. p. 46.]
* A beautiful engraving of this Gate has been happily preſerved by your
Society. When it was taken down (anno 1959) in order to widen the ſtreet,
the materials were carried to Windſor Great Lodge at the requeſt of his late
Royal Highneſs WILLIAM Duke of Cumberland, who intended to have re-erected
it as a termination of the Long Walk; but his Highneſs's death prevented it. The
ſituation of this Gate, as it remained, after the fire which in the year 1697 de- -
ſtroyed all the State Apartments except the Banqueting houle, may be ſeen, by.
thoſe who do not remember it, in a print (engraved from an original drawing) in
the Antiquarian Repertory, Vol. I. facing p. 8o...
# See beforeg po' 61.
K.
---
70
On the original Nature, Duty, &c.
One word more, Sir, will thew the particular attention, even
in fore-fight, that was paid to this Chamber by the above cited
Ordinances of King Charles II. as they provide for a poſſible
cafe, whether in a Villa belonging to the King, or at the Seat
of a Nobleman whom the KING inight honour with a viſit";
for, ſay they, “ in all houſes, where one Chamber is for our
... PRESENCE, and Privy CHAMBER, the ſaid Chamber ſhall be
avoided, and become the PRIVY CHAMBER, after warning
given to cover the table there for our meals, and alſo at other
“ times, when our pleaſure thall be to have the ſame private.”
From what has been ſaid, Sir, we may diſcern that the em-
ployment of the Gentlemen of the Privy CHAMBER was of
a mixt nature--they being originally confidential Servants to the
King_uſeful to him as Gentlemen of education, properly qua-
lified to be ſent on 'embaſljes &c. and Guardians of bis Perfon
hy Night, as two of them ſlept in an apartment nearly ad-
joining to the Royal Bed Chamber: their perfonal Authority was
ſingularly deciſive when exerciſed in the King's name-their
ſervice honourable in itſelf, and ornamental to the Court.
I have the honour, Sir, to ſubſcribe myſelf
„your very obedient
humble ſervant,
SAMUEL PEGGE.
1
APPENDIX.
.:.,
1
[71)
-a
A P P E N D I X.
N” I.
EXTRACT from the LONDON GAZETTE of April 30, 1763
WHITEHALL, April 18
TH
HIS day, their Excellencies M. * QUERINI and M. * Mo-
ROSINI Ambaſſadors Extraordinary from the moft Serene RE-
PUBLICK of Venice made their public Entry: they were received
at Greenwich by the Right Honourable the EARL OF GUILFORDť,
and Sir CHARLES COTTRELL DORMER, KNT. Maſter of the Cere-
monies, accompanied by fix GENTLEMEN OF His Majesty's
Privy CHAMBER, and from thence brought by water in his MA-
JESTY's Barges to the Tower. The Right Honourable LORD
BERKELEY OF STRATTON, Conſtable of the Tower, received their
Excellencies at their landing, the Standard was diſplayed, and
the Guard being drawn out upon the wharf, faluted their Excel-
lencies as they paſſed by: when the coaches were got off the
wharf, the Guns fired. The Proceſſion began by fix of the
Knight Marſhal's. men on horſeback; then the conducting Earl's
6
By theſe Initials I prefume the Title of MonsIGNORE is intended.
+ Not ex officio--but appointed for the purpoſe ; and poſſibly (thouglz I ſpeak
diffidently, becauſe the Rank of an EARL might quadrate with the SENATORTAL
DIGNITY of the AMBASSADORS. Their Excellencies were likewiſe received by an
EARL on their public Audience, [v. Poftea. ]
K2
Coachi,
1
72
A P P E N D I X.
Coach, in which went Stephen Cottrell, Eſq. Marſhal of the Ce-
remonies; then followed forty of their ExcelLENCIES Footmen,
in very rich liveries, two and two, after them eight Gentlemen
of the (their]'Bed Chamber ou horſeback two and two; then the
Houſe Steward on horſeback; then eight Pages, two and twò, oli
horfuback; then the Under Gentlempen of the Horſe; then their
Excellencies Bund of Muſic, on horſeback ; then came the Firſi
GENTLEMAN OF The Horse, immediately preceding his MA-
HJESTY's State Coach, in whicla went fHEIR EXCELLENCLES,' the
Right Honourable the EARL of GUILFORD, and SIR CHARLES COT-
TRELL Dormer, Knt. Maſter of the Ceremonies ; then followed
one of his MAJESTY's leading coaches * with the two Secretaries
of the EMBASSY in it; then one of the Queen's leading coaches
and after theſe a leading coach of her Royal Highneſs the Princess
DOWAGER of Wales-of hisi Rayal Highneſs the Duke of
YORK-of her Royal Highneſs the Princeſs AUGUSTA of his
Royal Highneſs the Duke of CUMBERLAND--and of her Royal
Highneſs the Princeſs AMELIA-cach drawn by fix horſes.
In theſe coaches went the GentLEMEN of the PRIVY CHAM-
BER: two and two; theſe were followed by the State Coach of the
mot Serene REPUBLICK of VENICE, very richly ornamented and
drawn by eight horſes, and two more very rich Coaches of their
ExcelLENCIES, drawn by fix horſes each, in the laſt of which
went Two Noble Venetians of their EXCELLENCIE's ſuite'; a nu
merous train of coaches of the Nobility each drawn by fix horſes
cloſed the proceſſion.
When their ExcELLENCIES were arrived at Somerſet-Houſe; they
were complimented on the part of his Majesty by the Right
Honourable LORD BEAULIEU : from the Queen, by the Right
* By leading coaches is to be underſtood thoſe commonly uſed for the convey-
ance of the Retinue of the ſeveral branches of the Royal Family reſpectively, as
diſtinguiſhed from the STATE COACHES.
Honourable
1
!
A
1
?
A B P E N D I X.
73
Honourable LORD VISCOUNT CANTALUPE, her MAJESTY's Vice
Chamberlain : from her Royal Highneſs the Princess DowAGER
or WALES, by William Wentworth, Eſq. her Royal Highness's
Vice Chamberlain *: from his Royal Highneſs the Duke of YORK
by the Honourable George West, Eſq. one of his Royal Highneſs's
Grooms of the Bed Chamber-: from her Royal Highneſs PRINCESS
AUGUSTA, by William Egerton, Eſq. her Royal Highneſs's
Gentleman Ufher t:: from his Royal Highneſs the Duke of Cum-
BERLAND by the Honourable General Fitz-William one of his
Royal Highneſs's Grooins of the Bed Chamber, and from her Royal
Highneſs PRINCESS AMELIA, by Stephens, Eſq. one of her
Royal Highneſs's Gentlemen Uſhers.
St. James's; April 21.
This day their Excellencies M. QUER:INI and M. MOROSINI,
Ambaſſadors Extraordinary from the moſt Serene RePUBLICK of
VENICE, were brought to their publick Audience of his MAJESTY,
by the right Honourable THE EARL OF SƯSSÈXI, and SIR CHARLES
COTTRELL DORMER, KNT: Maſter of the Ceremonies, attended by
fix GENTLEMEN of the Privy CHAMBER, from Somerſet-houſe,
where they had been, as uſual,entertained by his MAJESTY for three
* This I apprehend to be a grofs miſtake; for though Her ROYAL HIGHNESS
had a Chamberlain (the Right Honourable Lord Boſton) yet ſhe never had a Vice
Chamberlain ; for want of which Officer, the duty, on this occaſion, in the abſence
of the Chamberlain, devolved upon Mr. Wentworth, either as ſenior Gentleman Upher
of her Royal Highneſi's Privy Chamber, or as the Gentleman Ujer of that Department
in waiting
† This is likewiſe erroneous'; for it ſhould run-one of the Gentlemen Umher's
Quarterly Waiters belonging to Her Royal Highneſs the Princess Dowager of
WALES deputed to attend on the part of Her Rayal Highneſs the PRINCESS
AUGUSTA.
# A particular appointments
days,
}
2
Mano Doni.
74
Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D 1 X.
5
مو
days. The Proceſſion and ranging of the Coaches was exactly the
fame as at the Entry, Their Excellencies were received at the Count
Gate by Sir Sydney MEADOWS, Knight. Marſhal. The Foot
Guards upon duty were drawn' up in the court, and their Officers
fáluted their Excellencies with Pike, Drum, and colours, pulling
off their hats as they paſſed by.. Their Excellencies were con-
ducted to the Little Council Chamber to reſt themſelves till his
MAJESTY was ready; and then having notice ſent by a Gentleman
Uſher, they ſet forward, having the Right Honourable the EARL OF
Sussex on their right hand, and Sir CHARLES COTTRELL. DOR-
MER, Knt. Maſter of the Ceremonies, on their left. They were
received at the Guard-Chamber Door by the Right Honourable LORD
VISCOUNT FALMOUTH, Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard: at the..
Drawing-Room Door * by the Right Honourable the EARL OR
LICHFIELD, Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Penſioners, who were
sanged on each ſide in the Great Council Chạmber (the Room:
where his Majeſty gave themAudience), at the door of which their
Excellencies were received by his Grace the DUKE OF. MARLBO-
ROUGH, Lord Chamberlain of.. bis. Majeſty's Hosifhold. His Excel-
lency M. Morosini then made an Harangue to his MAJESTY
in Italian, which his MAJESTY having anſwered in Engliſh
their ExcelLENCIES. again retired to the Little Council Ghamber;
till Her MAJESTY was ready to receive. them, of which
líaving notice by a Gentleman Ulşer, they went to the Queen's
fide, and were received at the door of Her Majesty's Guard-
Chamber, by the Right Honourable LORD VISCOUNT CANTALUPE:
her MAJESTY'S Vice Chamberlain, and at the door of the Room of
Audience, by the Rigḥt Honourable tbe. EARL OF-HARCOURT,
lier MAJESTY's Lord Chamberlain, and ſo conducted up to Her.
MAJESTY by the LORD CHAMBERLAIN, the EARL OF Sussex,,
* Meaning the door of the Great Council Chamber, coinmonly called the Draws
ing-Room.
and
-
A P P E N D I X.
75
and SIR CHARLES Cottrell DORMER, KNT. Maſter of the
Ceremonies. The Audience over, their ExcelLENCIES were re-
conducted by the EARL OF Sussex and Sir CHARLES COTTRELL
Dormer, to their own houſe in the ſame ſtate as they came.
Their Excellencies had Audience of Leave of His Ma-
JESTY on the 13th day of May following, in the uſual form,
and were received in the cloſet, when the King conferred the
Honour of Knighthood on M. QUERINI, and preſented him with
the rich Sword mentioned in the preceding Memoir.
APPEN-
r
[ 76 )
:
Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν ΟΙ Χ..
Nº II.
EXTRACT from the LONDON GAZETTE of January 17, 17618
At the Court at St. James's, the 13th day of January, 1761.
PRE SE N. T ..
1
The King's moſt Excellent MAJESTY. in Council:
WH
HEREAS His MAJESTY's Royal Predeceſſors were
pleaſed, from time to time, by their reſpective Orders:
made in Council, to declare and ſignify their pleaſure, that their
Servants ſhould have and enjoy all antient Liberties, Rights and
Privileges; and that none of their Servants in ordinary, with Fees
ſhould be inforced or obliged to bear any. Public Office, ſerve on
Juries or Inqueſts, or be ſubjected unto any mulet or fine for not
ſubmitting thereunto ; His Majesty this day taking the ſame
into conſideration; and thinking it reaſonable that all his Ser-
vants in ordinary, with Fee, thould in regard of their conſtant at-
tendance upon His MAJESTY's Person, enjoy the like Privi-
leges with thoſe of his Predeceſors, doth therefore hereby order,
with the advice of his Privy Council, that the LORD CHAM-
BERLAIN of his MAJESTY's Houſbold, in relation to ſuch of his
MAJESTY?s: ſervants, who are under his Grace's * Command
* The Duke of Marlborougha
abave
.
A P P E N D I X.
77
above fairs; and the LORD STEWARD of His MAJESTY's Houl
hold, and in his abſence, His MAJESTY's Officers of the Green
Cloth; as to ſuch as are accounted Officers below ſtairs; and the
MASTER of the HORSE for the Servants belonging to the Stables,
do reſpectively ſignify unto the LORD MAYOR of London and
to his MAJESTY's Juſtices of the Peace within the City of West-
MINSTER, Counties of SURREY and MIDDLESEX, and to the
Mayors, Sheriffs and Bailiffs of any Corporation or County, and
to all ſuch as may be therein concerned, whenſoever there ſhall
be cauſe for afferting the ſaid Privilege; that His MAJESTY hath
thought proper, conformable to the example of bis Predeceſors in
this behalf, to order and require, that his Servants ſhould have..
hold, and enjoy all the ſaid Liberties, Rights, and Privileges;
and that henceforward none of his Servants in Ordinary, with
Fee, be enforced, or any ways obliged to bear airy public Offices,
ſerve on Juries or Inqueſts, Watch or Ward, in any place where
they dwell, or elſewhere, nor ſubject to any mulct or fine for
not ſubmitting thereunto; and the LORD CHAMBERLAIN of
his MAJESTY's Houfhold, for thoſe Servants above ſtairs; the
LORD STEWARD of his MAJESTY's Houſhold, and in his abſence
His Majesty's Officers of the Greencloth for the Servants below
ſtairs; and the Master of the Horse for the Servants belonging
to the Stables, are hereby authorized and required to take ſpecial
care, that this His MAJESTY's pleaſure be duly obſerved and
put in execution ; and that His MAJESTY'S Attorney General;
for the time being, be, and he is hereby authorized and requiredo.
upon any application made to him by any of His MAJESTY's
Servants in Ordinary, with. Fee, to cauſe a ſtop to be put to all.
proceedings already had, or to be commenced againft them or
any of them, for refuſing to watch, or ferve on Juries, or bear or
undergo any public Office or Employment above mentioned :: and
L.
His
..
78
A P P E N D I X.
1
.
His Majesty doth hereby further order, that Copies of this
Order be left with the reſpective Clerks of the Peace of the Cities
of LONDON and WESTMINSTER, and Counties of MIDDLESEX
and Surrey, to be kept amongſt the Records of His MAJESTY'S
Seſſions, to the intent that due obedience may be given there-
unto, and his Servants may not be vexed with unreaſonable pro-
ceedings.
W. BLAIR.
END of PART the FIRST.
!
+
.
A
CURIAL I A:
OR
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
AN
1
OF
SOM E
Β R Α Ν C Η Ε
OF THE
ROYAL HOUSHOLD, &c. &c.
Ą R T II.
CONTAINING
1
А
M
E
MO
O. I
R,
ADDRESSED TO THE
Preſident of the Society of Antiquaries, London ;
1
REGARDING the KING's HONOURABLÉ BAND OF
GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS,
FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME.
By S A MU E L P EGG E, ESQ:
!
LONDON,
Printed by J. Nichols, Prirìter to the SOCIETY of ANTIQUARIES;
And ſold by T. Payne and Son, Mews Gate; B. White and Son,
at Horace's Head, in Fl et-ſtreet; J. Robson, New Bond-ſtreet;
and LEIGH and SOTHEBY, York-ftreet, Covent Garden.
MDCCLX X X I V.
1
1
1
-
.
1
A
(iii)
1
INTRODUCTION
T 0
P
ART
II.
TH.
HE primary intention of this Work went no farther than
to develop the nature of a few Branches of the Royal
Eſtabliſhment, which were either totally worn out; or to fhew
what ſome of them, now in an evaneſcent ſtate, formerly were :
but in the courſe of ſuch reſearches I found myſelf led on in-
fenfibly to what may in fome meaſure ultimately amount to an
oeconomical Hiſtory of the Royal Houſhold. The ſubject of the
firſt Diflertation (the Eſquires of the Body) is entirely vaniſhed,
and that of the ſecond (the Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber) is
"little leſs ſo, except in name. Many, however,' of the Offices
which remain differ fo widely from the original deſign of their
inſtitution, that ſuch traces of them as can be found in their an-
tient ſtate may not be unacceptable to fome readers. If I
'fhould intrude too long with what immediately follows, or with
other- feemingly unimportatit ſubjects, it is becauſe no :writer
-ha's hitherto g’orie into them at large-ånd' becauſe they contain.
remanents of Antiquity not totally unworthy of being redeemed
from oblivion. I conſider myſelf in the light of an Artiſt clean-
ing
..
:
!
a 2
1
1.
[ iv ]
ing a large decayed original Picture, wherein a noble Group of
Figures, and a rich extenſive Back-ground may be diſcovered, un-
leſs they be more obſcured by the unſkilfulneſs of the Operator.
In a Work of this fort, where the information is of fo deſul-
tory a nature, it is almoſt impoſſible to purſue any plan which
will confine the ſubjects I have to offer within a regular ſeries : I am
therefore under a neceſſity of keeping them detached, for want
of Muniments which occur ſometimes very ſparingly. It is at
beſt but building with mere ſcantlings, of which when a few
are found, one does not know where to ſeek for more ; and even
thofe, in actual poffeffion, will not always ſuit the purpoſe for
want of being perfect :--but I have the honour to addreſs myſelf
to a learned Society, many Members of which are ſenſible how
difficult it is to form a ſtructure with materials ſo widely diſ-
perſed. I can defer but very little to printed authorities—few,
indeed, are to be had; when at the ſame time Manuſcripts on
ſuch ſubjects arefeldom preſerved, and thoſe which are, cannot eaſily
be found, though I am bound to acknowledge I have met with
every poſſible indulgence in the ſearch for them. I truſt, how-
ever, that all I have ſaid, or may hereafter throw out upon theſe
topics, will have authority, a Fides Attica, ſufficient to ſup-
port itſelf; and I had much rather ſay too little upon good
grounds. than hazard any thing upon a doubtful bottom.
I beg it may be underſtood that in theſe Difquifitions I do not
aim at innovation, or the reſtoration of ancient Cuſtoms ;-nei-
ther would I be thought to inſinuate any comparative ideas be-
tween the preſent and former ſtate of things ;-but, above all,
I ſhould be very ſorry to give the ſlighteſt offence to any Gen-
tleman, or Body of Gentlemen, in the Royal Houthold, and
more eſpecially to the Sovereign; the deſign extending no further
than merely to ſhew (as has been ſuggeſted) what were the Man-
ners of the Court in remoter ages, and the primary nature of Of-
fices
i
1
[v]
fices and Employments in the Regal Eſtabliſhment, which are
now fo much altered in their complexion and features by Time,
and by change of Habitudes. In the courſe of ſuch inveſtigation's,
however, I muſt be excuſed if it ſhould tranſpire that ſome Offices
originally menial in their nature, have been emancipated, and
are become reſpectable ; while others, at firſt honourable, have
ſunk into obfcurity—the effect of adventitious circumſtances ra-
ther than the conduct of individuals.
Tajuſtify this Reſearch, we may obſerve, that there is in Man-
kind an almoſt innate deſire to be acquainted with, and an incli-
nation to revere, in ſome degree, the Manners of their Anceſ-
tors, which extends even to their Paſtimes and Pleaſures : and if
ſuch curioſity prompts us to enquire into the ancient modes of liv-
ing, and the private æconomy of our own family connections,
there is a ſtill ſtronger impulſe which urges us to view, as
a more enlarged proſpect, the interior domeſtic lives of our
former Kings, their Eſtabliſhments, their Courts, and ſuch
Ceremonies as differ from thoſe of the preſent age. Theſe we
naturally compare with our own times, and even admire for their
rudeneſs and ſimplicity, while at the ſame moment we congra-
tulate ourſelves as living at a period of greater refinement. A
modern French author * has a paſſage very appoſite to this idea,
“ De toutes les parties de notre hiſtoire," ſays he, « il n'en
" eſt pas de plus intereſſante que celle qui nous retrace les
“ moeurs et les uſages de nos Peres. Ce ſont, pour ainſi dire, de
« ces vieux portraits de famille, ſur leſquels on ſe plaît toujours
" à jetter les yeux. La Gothicité du coſtume, l'habillement bi-
so farre, le maintien roide et empeſé des perſonages qu'ils repre-
* Monf. de St. Palaye. Memoires ſur l'ancienne Chevalerie. Tom. III. in
Preface, Paris. Duodecimo, 1781,
6 ſentent,
/
[ vi 1
6 ſentent, nous paroiſſent tout-à-fait plaiſans, et nous ne pou-
vous nous empécher de ſourire du mauvais gout de nos an-
“ ceſtres.”
The French writers have gone at large into minute details
reſpecting their own Eſtabliſhments, and there is ſcarcely a Ce-
remonial, or even an Office in the Court of France, that has not
been handled by them even to prolixity: for the ſake of brevity
I refer to Mr. du Tillet,-Pere Daniel de la milice Françoiſe---
Mr. Godefroye, &c. &c.
A Sovereign of our own times would find the State and Cere-
mony of former ages an incumbrance hardly to be endured ; it
would be like reverting to the days of Chivalry, when no per-
fon of rank could appear without being buckled up in a Suit of
Armour,
Every Century has felt a comparative enjoyment of its luxu-
ries, there having perhaps always been ſomething in each ſuc-
ceeding age more refined than in the laſt, and every period, I
doubt not, has exulted in ſuch improvements ; while any given
æra has been perfectly happy in the poſſeſſion of its own, with-
out a preſentiment of ſuperior indulgencies. Our Anceſtors fared
as voluptuouſly in their Diet as any of their ſucceſſors have done,
according to the taſte of the times ;-their Tables were plenti-
fully, though not, as we ſhould now call it, elegantly fur-
niſhed; and they had their Rarities and far-fetched Dainties. Their
ſtyle of Cookery varied from ours as much as the Cut of their
Cloaths, and the ingredients uſed in it as mạch as the materials
of which their Cloaths confiſted: yet were their Diſhes and their
Dreſs equally ſumptuous. Who now hears of Cloth of Gold,
or who eits Cranes and Porpoiſes -and yet theſe laſt were an-
accounted princely Viands *. Thus has luxury been the ſame
in all ages, differing only in its modes and qualities.
. See the Forme of Cury or Roll of Cookery of the year 1390. A private im-
preffion, hy Guſtavus Brander, Esg.-Sibi et amicis.
State
2
..
[. vii ]
State and Parade, the natural and proper appendages of Courts,"
have likewiſe relaxed with the times, and been decaying for
more than a century, and it is only to be lamented that Dig-
nity has fallen with them. From hence it ariſes, that every
trace of antient fplendour becomes of ſome value, and an object
of record ;--hereby an old Cuſtom is rendered equal in eſti-
mation with an old Coin ---the veſtiges of a Court with thoſe
of a Convent---and the Manners of mankind, when living, as
worthy of preſervation as their Monuments when dead. There
are a few, and but a few, who may know, by recollection or by
oral tradition, how the Faſhions and Etiquette of the Court have
varied for nearly a century : but thoſe few can tell us little of
what they were two centuries ago, which is only to be diſcovered
from very diffuſive evidence, and by an acquaintance with what
has been called “ Such reading as was never read."
As to the ſubject which immediately follows, it requires the
leſs excuſe after the learned Jeſuit, Father Daniel, has conde-
ſcended to give us the Hiſtory of the Gentilhommes du Bec de Cor-
bin (its prototype) in the French Eſtabliſhment. Some ſimilar
account of the Yeomen of the Guard will be brought forward
ſpeedily, which Corps, being likewiſe of French extraction, has
a claim to its place, as the Pendant or Companion of the BAND
OF PENSIONERS; theſe two being, at preſent, the only interior
Body Guards of the Perſon of the Sovereign *.
How far I may ſucceed in collecting and arranging the matter.
which is comprehended in the following parts of this work, is
left to the candour of the public to determine; and theſe few
words muſt operate as an Apology for all the Publications on the
ſubject, which I may hereafter take the liberty of obtruding upon
the World.
-
* The Serjeants at Arms were the original Garde du Corps of our Kings, an ac-
count of whom will form a ſubſequent Part of theſe Inveſtigations.
CU
+
+
1
1
と
​1
PTCH
:
...
1
1
!
1
[ 1 ]
CU RI A LI A:
OR,
A N HISTORICAL ACCOUNT, &c.
PART
II.
A
Μ Ε Μ ΟΙ R
Regarding the KING's Honourable BAND
OF
GENT L E MEN PENSION ERS,
From its Eſtabliſhment to the preſent Time *.
To the Preſident of the Society of Antiquaries, London.
TH
SIR,
HIS demi-military Corps is more pregnant with hiſtory
than one would imagine from its modern appearance,
which differs exceedingly in, complexion from what it was at
its Inſtitution. The face of it has changed, not only with the
faſhions of the times; but, according to ſome writers, with
the exigencies of the Court; and though an inſight into its Efta-
* Read at the Society of Antiquaries, March 21, 1782.
A
bliſhment
ܪ
£
2
The King's Honourable Band
bliſhment and Revolutions may be of no importance to national
hiſtory ; yet, in a work of this fort, it may be found to deſerve
ſome attention, as having once been the moſt ſplendid Branch of
the ROYAL ESCORTE.
I am juſtified in calling it demi-military, becauſe it was origi-
nally compoſed of Cadets of noble Families, and of the higher
Order of Gentry, who were afterwards tranſplanted, for the moſt
part, into the army.
The time of the Eſtabliſhment of The Band of GENTLEMEN
PensioNERS (as we now ſtyle it) has been generally mis-attri-
buted, ſome appropriating it to the Reign of King Henry VII *,
and others to that of Queen Elizabeth up; but the truth will be
found in the Reign of King Henry VIII. and not long after his
Acceſſion to the Throne I. His father had inſtituted at his Co.
ronation (1485) a body of fifty Archers, under the title of Yeomen
of his Guard; but the young and ſpirited King Henry VIII. was
too high-minded to be contented with an Eſcorte of. Yeomen, and
therefore erected this new, and ſumptuous Troop of GentLE-
Men, to attend his perſon and ſervice ll:
One
* Vide poftea, in a Cafe ſtated by the Penſioners themſelves at the Revolution.
+ See Chamberlayne's Preſent States-the Court Regiſters from time to time,
and Truſler's Chronology.
All the Chroniclers agree, that it took place in the firſt year of King Henry
VIII. (1509), previous to his Coronation.
|| Lloyd, in his Worthies [Obſervations on the Life of Thomas Howard,
Earl of Surry] ſays, “the Band was eſtabliſhed at the inſtance of Sir William
Compton.” This Gentleman, who was a lineal anceſtor of the Earls of Northamp-
ton, is well known to have been high in the Royal favour, and after having
ſerved as Page of Honour, and Groom of the Bed-chamber ſucceſſively to the King
when Duke of York, was, on the King's acceſſion, immediately made a Gen-
tleman of the Bed-chamber, Groom of the Stole, and ſoon afterwards knighted. Be-
fides theſe Offices in the firſt inſtance, the King conferred upon him ſeveral Ma-
nors, and honoured him with part of the Royal Arms, in augmentation of his
5
own
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS,
A
ca
:
One would expect the moſt accurate account of this inſtitu-
tion from Hall (the chronicler), who lived neareſt the time of
its being founded; but he will prove to be incorrect, and to
have been implicitly followed by Lord Herbert, Holingſhed,
Ştowe, &c*
All theſe writers fix the date of the eſtabliſhment, A. D.
1509,
the firſt year of King Henry VIII. to which we may
ſafely accede. They likewiſe tell us, that the corps was dif-
banded very ſoon, on account of the expence; and thať it was
not revived till the zoth year of King Henry's reign, 1539* :
though this laſt circumſtance is not only controvertible matter,
but will be found to be abſolutely fallacious. As Hall's account
is ſhort, and the other writers give it in totidem verbis, I ſhall
trouble you with it, and then proceed to give you other autho-
rities. “ This Band," ſays hë, 6s confifted of FIFTY GENTLE-
MEN to be SPEARS, every of them to have an Archer, a Demia
ck. lance, and a Couftrill I, and every SPEAR: to have three Great
« Horſes, to be attendant on his perſon ; of the which Band the
** Earl of Elex was CAPTAIN, and Sir John Peachy LIEUTE-
This ordinance continued but a while, the charges
** were ſo great; for there were none of them, but they and
o their horfes were apparelled and trapped in Cloth of gold, ſilver,
" and goldfmiths-work g.". Thus it lhould ſeem that the corps
own. [Dugdale's Baronage.] From thence there appears to have been a ſuf-
ficient intimacy, if I may uſe the word in ſuch a cafe, for the Kirig to embrace a
propoſal fo agreable and flattering to his love of fplendour.
* Hall 'died in the ſame year with King Henry VIII, 1547. Vid. Wood's
Athenæ.
* Lloyd ſays, it was diſcharged ſoon after the inftitution “ by the influ-
wary Stateſman, Thomas Howard, Earl of Surry.” [Lloyd's Wor-
thies, ut ſupra.]
Read Goufill. Vide poſtea.
§ Cloih of Gold, ſo much in uſe formerly, muſt have been a very expenſive
articlë, when we conſider the value of money at the time ; for ke' Statute of Ap*:
parel, made in the 24th year of this reign, ſpeaks of its being-Tomiëtimies upwardš"
of 57. per yard.
was
co
NANT.
ence of that
i
A 2
1
4
The KING's Honourable Band
.
s y
was ſcarcely embodied and completed before it was diſbanded,
and lay dormant for 30 years ; when, as they tell us, it was re-
vived, (1539), on the King's marriage with the Princeſs Anne
of Cleves. On this occaſion, ſay they, the troop was re-eſtao
bliſhed under the name of PENSIONERS or SPEARS, though
« Themfelves, and two Horſes, or one Horſe and a Gelding of
“ ſervice *.” So far theſe accounts go of the inftitution and re-
vival of the body, in which the above writers have copied each
other, though Lord Herbert gives (or pretends to give) a rea-
fon. independent of the marriage, which he treats as a mere
pretext,. and tells us. it was owing to the King's fears, on ac-
count of diſcontents which prevailed both at home and abroad,
And now, Sir, I am becoine amenable to you for the ſupport
of the allegations which I have brought forward againſt the
evidence of chroniclers, hiſtorians, and compilers, who have
touched upon the ſubject; and I have the fatisfaction to produce a.
tranſcript of the original STATUTES or ORDINANCES
for the erection and government of this Corps, together with
the OĄTH to be taken by each individual, figned by King:
Henry VIII, which may be ſeen in the Cottonian Library,
with the following title + :
CERTAIN ORDENANCES and STATUTES, deviſed and
ſigned by the King's. Majeſtie for a Retinewe of Speres or Men of
Arms, to be choſen of Gentlemen that be commen: and extracte:
of, noble. Blood. Withe. a forme of their ОTHE.
.
* Holingſhed, p. 1574. Store's Chron. p. 577.
+ Titus. A. XIII: N. 24.. This article does not appear in Smith's. Catalogue
of the Cottonian Library; but it is so be found among the MS. Addenda to
ibe Muſeum-Copy of that Catalogue. This Unique (for fuch.probably it now is):
erarains five. ſmall quarto leaves of pafchinent indeored,
HEN
1
1.
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
5
1
HENRY R.
Forafmoche as the King oure Souraine Lorde, of his greatt noble-
nelle, wiſedom, and prudence, confidreth that in this his reame of Eng-
land be many yong Gentlemen of noble Blod, whiche have non excer-
ciſe in the Feate of Armes, in handling and renying the Spere and other
faits of Werre on horſbacke like as in other Reames and Cuntreys be
dayley practiſed and uſed, to the greate honor and laude of theim
that foo dothe, his Highnes bath ordeyned and appointed to have a
Retynue daily of certaine Speres called Men of Armes, to be choſen of
Gentlemen that be comen and extracte of noble Blod, to thentent that.
they fall exerciſe the ſaid Feate of Armes, and be the more mete and
able to ſerve theire Prince, afwell in tyme of Werre as otherwiſ,
and to have good Wages to leve upon accordingly.
And to thentent alſoo, tfiat evry of thein shall knowe bowe to
order and demeane themſelfs, his Highnes bath made; ordeyned and
eſtablifed certaine Ordenances and Statutes following.
Furſ, evry of the ſaid GENTLEMEN fball have bis Harneys com-
plete and all other Habilements mete and neceffary for him, with
two Double Horſes av the lecfte for himſelf and bis Page, convenient
and neceſarye for a Man of Armes; alſo his Couſtrell*, with a
V
* This word, is uniformly miſ-written throughout theſe ordinances; for it
ſhould evidently be Coufti'l, an abhreviate of the French word Couftillier, which,
according to Cotgrave, ſignifies “. The ſervant of a Man of Arms.” This is not
an error of the pen; for Lord Herbert obſerves, that the word Cuſtrell had 08-
tained in our hiſtories, which, in truth, (ſays his Lordſhip) ſhould be Couflillier,
and he renders it conformably with: Cotgrave, by Aimbaétus, which implies a
fervant, or rather an attendant, not of a menial fòrt. Lloyd, in his Worthies,
above-cited, gives us the word Couftillier. But Pere Daniel beſt explains this
The Ccatiitier he conceives to have been a ſoldier armed with a Coátille, a
fpecies of ſword mentioned by ſome of the antjent French writers. under the
name of Cultellus, longer than the ſword then in common uſe, ſharp from the guard
10 the point, and very flender, having three edges. [Hift..de. France, tom. IV.
p. 1624. Edit. Amft: 1720,].
Javelyn.
term.
1
-
.
6
The King's Honourable Band
!
as
Favelyn or Demye-launce, well armed and horſed as it apperteyneth.
And they all obeye in every condicon the Captaine, that ſhall be or-
deyned and deputed by the King's Highnes or bis Deputie Lieute-
pante to have the rule, conduite and gov'nance of theim in all
things that thei Mall be commanded to. doo on the King's behalf.
Itm, That they fall make theire abode in ſuche places as the
King's Grace shall appointe theim, or the ſaid Captaine or the De-
puty Lieutenante in the King's name, whedder it be in places nighs
bis Perfon, or elſewhere, upon pain for every ſuch defaulte to loſe
ſix days Wages.
Itm, Evry of the ſaid Speres and Couſtrellys hall, at evry time,
cary with theimtheire Horſes
, Harneys and other
Habiliments of Werre,
as thei have, and fhall muſter with, not lacking, at any time, pece
ar parcel of theire ſaid Habilyments of Werre nor Horſes, upon payne
of loſing fx dayes wages for evry ſuche daye and tyme as he ſhall be
founden in defaulte, being afore commaunded by the King, Captaine,
or Lieutenante.
Itm, In likewiſe, that non of the ſaid Speres nor Couſtrells fall
in nowile departe oute of the place where they be aligned to make
theire ſaid abode, withoute the ſpecial licence of the King our So-
vraine Lorde, or of theire faid Captaine, or Deputie Lieutenante:
and to fuche as licence ſhall be granted unto by the King's Grace or
the faid Captaine or Lieutenante, and the daye appointed theim for
their returne not to faille withoute lawfull excufe of ſickneſſe or
otberwiſe duely proped, upon.paine of the loſe of double theire Wa-
ges. for every daye, as thei fball faille in comying after the faid daye
to thein lymited and aligned,
Itm, That evry of the forfaid Men of Armes ſhall furnyſhe and
make redy twoo good Archers well horſed and harneſſed, and to bring
theim to muſter before the King's Grace or fuche perſones as his Grace
Shall appointe within a monetb' at the fartheſ after the daye that
they
of GENTLEMEN PenşioNERS.
they ſhall be commanded foo to doo by the King's Grace, or theire
Captaine or Lieutenante, and not to faille foo to doo, upon paine of
loſing their Romes, and their bodies to be ponyſhed atte the King's
pleaſure.
Itm, If any of the faid Archers after thei be admitted fortune
to dye, the faid Speres fall not admitte any other in theire place,
but" mall name' oon mete" perſon for that Rome of Archer unto the
King's Highnes, and bring him to his prefens to be admitted at his
pleaſure, or els to the faid Captaine or Lieutenaute.
Itm, For the Wages and Ent'teyning of the ſaid Speres and
Archers, the King's Highnes baih ordeyned and appointed that
evry Spere fall have and receive for. Himſelfe, his Couſtreil, bis
Page and bis two Archers, thre fhillings and foure pens firlings
by the daye, to be paid by hands of the Treafourer of the King's
Chambre, whiche is appointed by the King's Highnes to paye them
the fame. And furthermore the ſaid Speres fball receive theire furid
Wages for theim and for theire. Archers at thend of eury Moneth.
Itm, The King's pleaſure is, That the ſaid Lieutenante fall have
for the Wages and Entertaining of Himlelf, bis Cuſtrell, Page, anil
fix Archers, fox Thilliirgs by the daye, to be payed in like manner
as the ſaid Speres fall be..
Itm, The King's Grace woll' that the faid' Captaine or Lieu-
tenante, with ſuche other plones as bis Grace Mall appointe
fball eury quarter of the yerë as: it skal be the King's pleaſure, fee
the Musters of woe jaid Men of Armes and theire Company, if any
of them lakke Horfe, Harneys, or if any of their faid Horſes and
Harneys be no futficient as they ſhould be if thei benot, that they
be commanded vy the forfaid Captaine or: Lieutenante to provide for
ſuche as ſhal. be good and ſufficient upon raiſonable daye by the faid
Captaine or Lieutenante to be appointed.. And fuche as ſoo be founden.
in defaulte, that the ſaid Captaine or Lieutenante, ball reſiraine bis
3
Wages:
8
The King's-Honourable Band
",
M'ages in the bands of the ſaid Treafourer of the Chambre till be
be ſufficiently apparelled of ſuche thinges as he foo fall lakke, and
thus the ſaid Captaine or Lieutenante to doo upon payne of the
King's diſpleaſure, and loſing of his Rome.
Itm, To thentent that the ſaid Speres mall alweys be in the more
Arredynes * with theire Retynue and
fucbe Horſe and Harneys and
other things as fal·be neceſſarye in that behalf, the King's pleaſure
is, That the ſaid Speres fal be redy alweys to mufter befor the ſaid
Captaine or Lieutenante at ſucbe tyme or tymes as they ſbal be by
them commaunded foo to doo,
Itm, It is the King's Commaundement that the ſaid Speres and
theire Companye ſhall obſerve and kepe good rule and gov'nance, and
nothyng attempte againſte the King's fubjets, contrarye to his lawes,
and that thei duely and truely content and paye in redy money for
vittalls and all other neceffaries that thei ſhall take for themſelfs
theire faid Servants and Horfes upon payne to be ponijbed after the
King's pleaſure, And if any of theim hal be founde three times
culpable in any fucb defaults, tben be or thei to be deprived of his
Rome and his body to be poniſhed at the King's pleaſure,
Itm, It is the King's pleaſure and commaundement that none of thể
faid Speres ſhall preſume to take bis Lodging by bis owne auctorite
but be ordered their in, and take fuch Lodging as by the King's Her-
bergiers +, for that purpoſe deputed, Noall be appointed unto theim
uspon ponyſshement afor ſaid,
Itm, It is the King's Pleaſure and Commaundment that non of the
Said Speres mall geve Wages unto any Archer, Couſtrell or Page of
any other Spere, nor to reteigne him as his frvante, excepte he be put
1p him by his own Maſter, being oon of the ſaid Speres,
t'
* Readineſs,
+ Harbingers,
The
::
mos
-
!
.
1
of Gentlemen PensionERS.
The OTHE.
I mal be true and faithfull Subjecte and Servante unto oure So.
verine Lord King HENRY tbe VIIIth, and to his Heirs, King's
of England, and diligently and truely give myn Attendance in the Rome
of oon of his Speres, and I hal be reteyned to no man, pſone, ne
Pſones of what degre or condicon foever be be by Othe, Lyvree, Bagge
(Badge), Promiſe or otherwiſe, but oonly to bis Grace, without his
especial Licence *. And I ſhall not hereafter knowe or here of any
thing
1
* Sir William Bulmer was in the reign of Hen. VIII. rebuked for ſuffering
himſelf to be retained by the Duke of Buckingham, while he was in the King's
ſervice. [Hall's Chronicle, Hen. VIII. fol. 59.], A Retainer according to Strype
[Memorials, Vol. III. p. 479.] “ was a ſervant not menial, (that is, continually
" dwelling in the houſe of his Lord or Maſter) but only wearing his Livery, and
« attending ſometimes on ſpecial occaſions upon his perſon. The Livery was
wont to confift of hats or hoods, badges, or other ſuits of one garment by the
year. None could have Retainers but by licence from the Crown. Queen
“ Mary was very liberal in granting licences s but Queen Elizabeth was as
“ ſparing. Their tendency was often bad in keeping up animofities between
great men, and fomenting rebellion, ſo that Statutes have been occafionally
" made to regulate thein *." Feuds of this kind were ſtill more common in
France formerly, and even ſo lately as the reign of Henry III. (anno 1579), we
find the fame Policy was adopted, on account of the fallious temper of the no-
bility, when the Order of the Holy-Ghoſt was fcunded ; for the Knights were
ſworn, “ de ne prendre Gages, Penſions, ou Eſtat d'autre Prince quelconque.”
[Pere Daniel, Hiſt. de France, tom. VI. p. 65.].
Lord Verulain relates a ſtory of the Earl of Oxford, who once entertained
King Henry VII. " At the King's going away, the Earl's ſervants ſtood in their
“ Livery-coats, with Cognizances, ranged on both ſides, and made the King a
6 lane. The King called the Earl to him and fait-" Theſe handlom gentlemen
.6 and yeoinen, which I ſee on both fides of me, are ſure your menial ſervants !"
" The Earl ſmiled and faid, they are moſt of them my Retainers, they are come
" to do me ſervice at ſueh a time as this, and chiefly to ſee your Grace. The
+
.
* Anno 8 Edw. IV. Chap. 2. The Statute ſays, “None ſhall give Livories but to their MENIAL ſervants."
B
66 King
.
1
1
1
4.
M71
1
1
..
1
1
i
1
:10.
s,
;
The King's Honourable Band'
thing that ſhal be burtefull or prejudiciall to his mof royal pſon,
Specially in treaſon, but I hal withſtand it to th' uttermoſt of my power,
and the fame with all diligence, to me poſſible, diſcloſe to the King's
Highnes or to the Captaine of the faid Speres or bis Deputie Lieu-.
tenante or fuche others of his-Counfaile as I ſhall know will diſco-
ver the ſame unto his Grace. I Mall not leye to pledge ne putte.
awaye fuche Horſe & Harneys as I nowe have muffered with before
the King to any plone or pfones, ne put oute of ſervice any Archer,
Cuſtrell;. or Page, that I have nowe with‘nre,.. onles I have before
ſhowed caufe refonable foo to doo to the King or the ſaid Captaine
or his Deputie Lieutenante in his abfence :, nor. I fall knowe of any:
of my. Company. in likewiſe to leye to pledge or put away any Horſes
Harneys, or Archers, but that I fall ſhowe the ſame-to-thie King's
Grace, bis ſaid Captaine or Deputie Lieutenante, in as brief tyme
as I conveniently maye. I fall alſo truely and faithfully to my
power obſerve and kepe from this. daye. forwards all and evry ar.
ticle comprized in a Boke_aligned with the King's Hand, and all :
manner of Statutes and Ordinances in the ſame and in:evry of theim
conteined. On this I ſhall be obeyſaunte unto my Captaine or
Deputje Lieutenante, and the commaundements I Mall obſerve and
« King ſtarted a little, and faid.;. By my faith, my Lord, I thank
“ good cheer, but. I may not endure to have my laws broken in my fight..
«s. My Attorney muſt ſpeak with you.”- And, continues Lord Verulam. it is.
part of the report, that the Ear) compounded. for-no leſs than 15,000 marks,
(Hift. of Hen. VII. p. 120.).
It may ſeem neceſſary to explain the term Livery, as it appears a --very equi.
vocal word in authorities, which I llrall frequently have occaſion to cite. The
root of the Term is the French Liverés, and applies to all things deliver'd from ..
the offices of the Royal Houſhold: :reſpectively, viz. Robes and Garments...
as well as Diet, Wood, Candles; &c. [Vid the Northumberland Houſhold Book.]
The word is now worn out in its original ſenſe, and is confined merely to a party-
colour'dkfuit.of. Cloaths given to Men-férvants. .
kepe
I
1
+
.
you
for
my
1
3
1
A
"I
.
1.
+
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
kepe at all tymes, foo the ſame be or concerne the ſervice of the
King's Grace. And all ſuche cauſes ſecrete as Mall be sbewed unto
me by the King's Grace, the faid Captaine or Deputie Lieute-
nante, I ball keep counfaill without diſcov'ring of the ſame to any
plone or plones till I be commaunded. I ſhall deligently geve my at-
tendaunce with my Retynue upon the King's Grace in ſuche wife
as I Mall be commaunded and appointed by the ſaid Captaine or his
faid Depatie Lieutenante and not abfente or departe from the Courte
without Licence of the King or of the ſaid Captaine or his Depu.
tie Lieutenante, in his abſence, by the ſpace of foure dayes. And
alſo all ſuche Horſe, Harneys, and other Habiliments of Werre as
I nowe have muſtered with before the King's Grace, the ſaid
Captaine or Deputie Lieutenante, be my own proper goods and non
other man's: nor alſo I Mall not mufter at any tyme before the
King's Grace the ſaid Captainé or Deputie Lieutenante, with
any Archer, Couſtrell or Page, but oonly with ſuche as I have
reteyned with me to ſerve the King's Highpes for the ſame
entent. And thus I ſhall well and truly obſerve and kepe, and ſerve
the King in the ſaid Rome of oon of bis Speres. So belpe me God
and theis holy Evangelies.
1
The preciſe date of theſe Ordinances is not ſpecified, though
we have eſtabliſhed it by other authorities, neither is the-in-
tended number of the SPEARS aſcertained; but it is probable that
the time of completion was notthen arrived, and that the Corps
was merely in a ſtate of formation. As to the number, it ſeems
to have waited for the KING's pleaſure to be further made known,
as the foregoing Statutes only ſay certain SPEARS, neither are the
PTAIN and LIEUTENANT mentioned by name, though the
printed
B 2
r
4
1
3
t
+
NT
1
12
The KING's Honoarable Band
printed accouuts ſay that the Earl of Eſex was CAPTAIN, and
Sir John Peacby LIEUTENANT *
In the préamble,. Sirwe fee the ground-work, the model,
and the intention of tlre Inſtitution. It was well nnderſtood at
that time what a Man of Arms was, and it explains to us.what
was then likewiſe expreſſed metonymically by a SPEAR, thereby
compreheğiding all other appendages, the weapon implying the
perſon, as in modern military language a "Drum frequently
expreffes the Drummer, and a Trumpet the Trumpeter, &ct. Theſe
Gen-
+
* Holingſhed indeed has inverted them; but there can be no doubt that the
Earl was the ſuperior officer. This Earl of Eſex was Henry Boúrchier, who was
nearly related to the King, his mother being Anne Woodville, ſiſter to Elizabeth
Woodville, (the Queen of King Edward the IVth,) the King's Grandmother; ſo
that he was maternally, firſt coufin to the Queen of King Henry VII. and bat one
degree more remote from King Henry VIII. The Earl's grand-father had mar-
ried Iſabel, fifter to Richard Duke of York, and the alliance with Royalty
commenced before his father's marriage, and the pedigree ſtands thus :
Richard Plantagedet,
Earl of Cambridge,
Second Son of Edmund of Langley
:
í
Rich. D. of
York.
Iſabel
of York-Hen. Bourchier, E.
of Eflex.
Rich, Woodville
E. Rivers
t
K. Edw. IV.-Eliz: Woodville
Anne =Wm. Viſcount Bour-
chier. Ob. vità
Elize of
Patris.
York. K. Hen. VII,
. Hen. Bourchier, E.
of Eſſex, The firſt Cape
tain of the Band of Gen-
Ki Henry VIII.
tlemen Penſioners.
+ So P. Daniel. Tous les Gendarmes etant armez de pied en cap, et ayant
pour une de leur armes offenſives la lance qui leur fut long-temps propre, c'eſt
ponr. cela que dans le ſtyle des Hiſtoriens de ce temps-la, Gendarme, Homme
d' Armes, Lance, Lancier, etoit la même choſe. [Hift. de France, ſub anno 1532.]
The
1
4
+
4
i
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
13
Gentlemen were to appear in armour, for by the word Harneſs,
at that time was meant a compleat Suit of Armour* The
attendants of each Spear are deſcribed to be a Page, a Couftill,
and Two Archers, though the Chroniclers give him but one
Archer, a Demi-Lance aud a Couftill: but a Couſtill and a Demi-
Lance appear to have been the ſame froin the foregoing Ordi-
nances, where it was ſaid the Couſtill was to carry a Javelin or
Demi-Lance. By Double-horſes, I preſume, are meant Great
or managed Horſes, which probably were Chevaux entiers and
nct Geldings up. To theſe Attendants were to be added Two
good
*
1
The French likewiſe apply the term Guidon, Cornette and Enſign, both to the
Standards ſo called, and to the bearers of them, as we do, though in the laſt caſe
they ſpeak with a differential article, which our language will not admit. Thus
Tere Daniel-Cette eſpece d'Etendart a donné ſon nom à celui qui la..
porte: car on dit la Cornette pour fignifier l'Entendart, et le Cornette pour figni-
“ fier l'officier qui la porte.” (Hiſtoire de la Milice Françoiſe. Tom. II. p 63.]
* This appears from Wills, &c. Sir Robert Wingfield, by his Will, proved,
Nov. 12, 1539, gives « his Target of Steel, and his light Harneſs, and twelve
“ footmens Harneſs to his nephew John Wingfield :" And further bequeaths bis
late brother's “ compleat Harneſs" to his nephew, Richard Wingfield. [Vid. An-
ſtis's Regiſter of the Garter, p. 230.] Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exe:er, (hy
his Will, proved 1426) bequeathed to Ignatius Clifton, “ Unum Harneſium
Armorum.” [See the Royal Wills; publiſhed by J. Nichols, 1780, p. 162.)
+ The Great or Double Horſes then in uſe, we may ſuppoſe, were ſuch as have
been ſince ſeen in our heavy Cavalry, on which, in caſes of neceffity, star horſe-
men could take up behind him another who was diſmounted, or a perſon on foot
who was wounded, or, in certain ſituations, a captive. Thus, in the laſt in-
ftanče, we find that when Sir Thomas Wyatt ſurrendered himſelf, in the reign
of Queeen Mary, he was brought by Sir Maurice Berkeley froin Temple Bar to
Whitehall, on the ſame horſe behind him ; as was Sir Thomas Cobham, behind
another gentleman. [Strype's Memorials, Vol. III. p. 90. Vid. alſo, Godwin's
Annals of Queen Mary.] Froiſſart mentions theſe horſes, which Lord Berners
tranſlates double horſes, [Chap. 149). The French term is Rouffins, which ſee in
3
Cot-
.
-
1
L
1
L
lt
The King's Honourable Band
good Archers, on horſeback, and in Armour. For the ſupport
of this their Retinue each SPEAR was to have a daily Pay of
three Shillings and four Pence, a much more confiderable Sum
at that time than the sole which the printed accounts have al:
lowed; for the reſult of three ſhillings and four pence per diem,
is 601. -16 s. 8. d. per annum.
The regulation and diſcipline of this Troop appears every
where in the Statutes to have been an object of great attention,
as the mulets for abſence and irregularity are very large; and
the Oath, which is ſpecific and prolix,' ſeenis intended to
have been taken publicly in the field, after a muſter, in the
preſence of the King, or commanding Officer, and the whole
would take this opportunity of obſerving, Sir, that
the two perſons in armour, with Spears in their hands, mounted
on horſes differently capariſoncd, and who immediately follow
the Duke of Suffolk and Sir Anthony Browne, in the print of
the Siege of Portſmouth, [1545] lately engraved by your So-
ciety, ſeem to be a SPEAR and his Couftill; and there appears
to be ſeveral others of each fort, as likewiſe Archers, ſcattered
up and down in the general groupe of figures in that print.
Thus much, ,Sir, for the inſtitution of the.SPEARS; and if
we are to credit the printed accounts we ſhall hear no more of
them for thiệty years, viz. till the year 1539. They tell us
that the expence was too great for them to exiſt long, and that the
Corps was a very ſoon diſbanded after it was formed, (though they
Band *
+
Cotgrave. Horſes for draught were, at that time, diſtinguiſhed by the term
trolting horſes. [North unberland Houſhold-book, p. 127.]
* The words, we may recollect, run--That the Hore, Harneſs, and other Habi.
liments of war—" as I now have muſtered with before ithe King's Grace, the
166 ſaid Captaine or Deputie Lieutenante, &c."
5
give
.
3
1
.1
t
!
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
-55
1
1
give in the charge at leſs than it really was) and that the revival
was made in a very ſparing manner, unworthy of its firſt elta-
bliſhment ; for that though the SPEARŞ were allowed for their
yearly ſalaries gol. each, yet they were only bound to ſupply
two horſes, or, optionally, “One Horſe, and a Gelding of Sep-
vice * "
!
:
+
There is, indeed, reaſon to believe that their Páy was lef -
fened, and that their Retinue was diminiſhed at the above pe-
riod; but it had taken place long before the year 1939: for it
we look into the Houſhold Statutes, made at Eltham, 1526,-
we ſhall there find the Corps complete, and fully officered, and
(for the firſt time that we have good authority to call it fo).
under the preſent Title of THE BAND of GENTLEMEN PEN-,
SIONERS., In order to raiſe the ſtipends of the additional officers,
the pay of each Penſioner ſeems to have ſuffered a conſiderable
defalcation, (being reduced to gol.) and it is preſumable that
on account of ſuch abatement, fonie. part. of their Retinue
was diſpenſed with. About this period (or foon after) the
Batile- Axe, was probably introduced, as they began now to ope-
rate on foot in the Court, as well as on horſeback in the Field; in
which former cafe. they might carry. the Pole or Battle.
Axe, though they uſed their Spears on horſeback. If the Corps.
was actually new modelled, the King, who had formed it; (as
the original Statutes fay) on a Plan adduced from foreign coun..
tries, might adopt the Battle-Axe from the French, as it
ap-
proximates very much to the Becs de Corbin; borne by fome of
the moſt ancient Houthold Troops in France...
Having mentioned the Becs de Corbin in the French eſtabliſh-
ment, I muſt beg leave, Sir, to inſiſt for a few moments 01
the ſubject, from whence it will appear that both Corps, ini
1
*. Vide Holingſhed, fol. 1574mm
their.1
3
+
V
.
t
1
.
16
The King's Honourable Band
their eſtabliſhment and governance, have mutually borrowed
from each other. In the account given us by Pere Daniel *, a
very exact parallel is found between our GENTLEMEN PEN-
SIONERs in early times, and the Gentils-hommes du Bec de for.
bin in France, who were formerly regarded, during ſeveral
Reigns, as the principal and moſt honourable Guard of the King,
being ſtyled “ La Grande Garde du Corps *." Let us examine the
features of them reſpectively, which willconfirm the reſemblance.
The French Corps was originally compoſed of one Hundred Gen-
tlemen of rank and conſequence, under the command of a Captain,
á Lieutenant, and an Enſign, and were expreſsly inſtituted by
Louis XI. (1474), as a Garde du Corps. Each of theſe Gentlemen
was armed with a Lance, and attended by a Man of Arms and Two
Archers, and as they were for the moſt part formed from the
Gentlemen of the King's Houſhold or Penfioners, “ Gentils-
hommes de ſon Hotel ou Penſionaires," the Troupe was cal.
led The Company of the Hundred Gentlemen of the King's Houſ-
bold, appointed for the Guard of his Perſon-{"La Compagnie de
• Cent Gentils-hommes de la Maiſon du Roy ordonnés pour la
" Garde de' ſon Corps ut.”] This, I cannot doubt, Sir, was
the foreign eſtabliſhment, to which our K. Hen. VIII. al-
Judes in the Proeme to the Statutes for the formation of his
Band of Penſioners 'now before us, and the following traits will
ſtrengthen the ſurmiſe.
We have ſeen our own Band furniſhed from the prime of
our Gentry, or from the younger branches of our antient No-
bility ;-and P. Daniel tells us, on authority, that there was
1
2
* Hiſtoire de la Milice Françoiſe. Tom. II. p. 99. et ſeq. + Idem. p. 100.
+. A ſecond Company of 100 was added to thein by Ch. VIII. 1497, which
was ſtyled Extraordinary, though they both went collectively under the origi-
nal denomination of The Hundred Gentlemen. Theſe laſt were entirely aboliſhed
by Louis XIV. 1688,
not
.
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONER.
17
1
not a family of antiquity in France which had not, at different
times, one of it enrolled in the Band of The hundred Gentle-
men *
+
Each of theſe Gentlemen, like our own, had, as has been
ſeen, Two Archers, whom he furniſhed with Horſes and Arms,
at his own expence to
In point of degradation, the French Band kept pace with our
owy, wherein we ſhall find hereafter Orders to prevent the ad-
miſſion of perſons improperly qualified with reſpect to rank,
and without the entire approbation of the Sovereign : for P.
Daniel tells us, that by an Ordinance of Hen. III. (A.D. 1585.)
the Captain was enjoined not to admit any into the Corps who
were not of competent gentility by birth, and chat each Gentle-
man, previous to his admiffion, ſhould be preſented to the King
for his ſanction.. (Vid. the Orders reſpecting our Band,
poftea 1:]
As the French Band was denominated Gentils-hommes du Bec
de Corbin, from the Arms they made uſe of; fo ours, we ſhall
find, were fréquently called Gentlemen of the Axell
.
He cites the author of a book intituled, « Les Origines des deux Compag-
"nies,” whoſe words are Je puis dire qu'il n'y a guerres d'ancienne Maiſon
*** de Gentils-hommes qui ne trouve quelq'un des fiens enrôlé en lune de ces deux
66 Compagnics.” [P. Daniel, ubi fupra, p. 101.),
f " Chacun de ces Gentils-hommes avoit deux Archers.q'il entretenoit, montoit,
et armoit à ſes depens ſur fa ſolde. [P. Dan. ut fupra, p. ròi.]
I“ Defend (fa Majefté) aux Capitaines d'enrôler en ſeurs Compagnies que
« Gentils-hommes de la qualité requiſe, leſquels à cette fin ils lui préſenteront
auparavant que de les recevoir.": [P. Dan, ut fupra, p.105)
|| The French were ſometimes ſtyled Becs de Faucon—and from their Pay
which was Twenty Crowns (Vingt Ecüs]".per month, (I preſume a large and
fingular allowance) they have been likewiſe called, « Les Gentils-hopmes des
“ Vingt Ecus.” [P. Daniel, ut fupra, p. 103.]
С
The
66
1
1
1
--
..
18
The King's Honourable Band
The rank of the Captain (or the Commander for the moment
in the French Court) appears from the Orders cited by P, Da-
niel, wherein it is ſaid, that wherever the Hundred Gentlemen
attended the King with their Arms, the Captain (or the chief
in command) ſhould walk neareſt to the King, on his right -
hand *
On the other hand, Sir, we may now obſerve a point in which
our practice ſeems to have given the impreſſion to thc French
Court. The Band of our GentLEMEN PENSIONERS, as we
ſhall ſoon ſee, was allowed the liberty of quarterly-waiting, by
detachments, in the reign of its founder, King Henry VIII.
which circumſtance was afterwards introduced into the French
eſtabliſhment under Hén. ÍII. (A. D. 1585.) when' The Hundred
Gentlemen were admitted to the ſame indulgence : for the French
Ordinances direct that thoſe who were in waiting (en quartier)
ſhould be on duty at a given hour :
The Penalties likewiſe for non-attendance were lofs of
wages,
and diſmiſſion for aggravated offences, which appear to have
been the puniſhments preſcribed by our Orders from time to time.
[See the reigns of Q. Eliz. and K. K. Ch. I. & II. poſtea I.]
"T
* P. Dan. ut fupra. Vid. poftea, in the Reign of King Charles II. for the
parallel.
+ “ Veut auffi fạ Majeſté, que les Gentils-hommes etant en quartier, ſe trou-
“ vent en fón Antichambre des les fix heures du matin, pour l'accompagner avec
“ leurs Haches, comme ils ont accoutume, juſq' à ſon Diner, et l'apres-dinée,
“ jufq' à fon Souper.” [P. Dan. ut fupra, p. 105.] .
I“ Le premier jour de chacun Quartier le Capitaine ou le Lieutenant entrant
" en charge (c'eſt à dire en quartier) preſentera à la majeſté les cinquante Gen-
“ tils-hommes de ſervice, et les lui nommera : les defaillans perdront leurs
gages.” [P. 105.] and further, “ Enjoint fa Majeſté auſdits Gentils-hommes
“ d'obſerver de point en point tout le contenu cy-deſſus fous peine de Caſſation."
rld. p106.]
Again,
-
of GENTLEMEN PensionERS.
19
ERS.
Again, Sir, The Hundred Gentlemen had a Table in the King's
Houſe" Ils avoient les Privileges des Commenfeaux.” [P. Da-
niel, p. 107.] as had our GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS formerly,
which will be diſcernible when we come to the Reigns of Q.
Eliz. and K. James I.
The French Corps in their attendance on the Sovereign, ap-
peared ſometimes on Horſe-back, and at othor times on foot, ac-
cording to the occafion, and ſuch, we ſhall foon have oppor.
tunity to obſerve was the caſe of our GENTLEMEN PENSION-
In theſe ſituations both were armed reſpectively with
Lances, on Horſeback, and on Foot, with Axes :- Thus Pere
Daniel; “ Ils avoient outre la Lance, la Hache d'Armes, dont
« ils ſe ſervoient lorſqu'ils etoient de Guet ou de Garde aupres
ts de la Perſonne du Roy." [Ibidem, p. 107.] To go ftill far :
ther, the poſition and preciſe diſtance from the Royal Perfon,
to be obſerved by the Commander of The Hundred Gentlemen
in either caſe, is preſcribed by the Ordinances of Hen. III. with
moſt minute exactitude *.
This, P. Daniel informs us, Sir, was the ſtate and diſcipline
of The Hundred Gentlemen in the year 1585 under Hen. III. of
France, to which we may add that our own body of GENTLE-
MEN PENSIONERS, under Q. Elizabeth (the contemporary So-
vereign of England) was by no means inferior in dignity, or
in any thing but number, as we ſhall perceive, when we ar-
rive at that period.
The ſervice of the French Corps, at the time when P. Daniel
wrote (1708) was reduced to mere occaſional parade, on great
and ſolemn occafions, when they walked before the King with
* ! Si ſa Majeſte eſt à pied, ceux des dits Rangs, qui ſeront à coté d'elle, në
" pafferont point en arrière le pommeau de fon Epée ; et fi elle eſt à cheval, ne ſe
s tiendront point plas en arrière que la pointe de ſon pied.” [Id. p, 106.]
C 2
their
.
1
:.
20
1
1
The King's Honourable Band
their Inſignia of Office (the Becs de Corbin] as they did, he
tells us, when Louis XIV. camę of age, 1651-at his mar-
riage, 1660--and at a ceremonial of the Knights of the Order
of the Holy Ghoſt, in the following year *
But to return, Sir, to our own PENSIONERS. King Henry
had his grand interview with Francis I. of France, between
Guines and Ardres, 1520, and out of compliment (but I ſpeak
without authority) might affect a ſimilar appearance in his
Body-guard at the interview with what he knew was uſed
by King Francis :--but be that as it may, ſeveral of theſe
GENTLEMEN with their Battle-Axes, are diſcernible in the pic-
ture of the Champ de Drap d'or, which leads one to imagine that
the Battle-Axe had obtained about that period.
Cardinal Wolfey, who was pever tardy in apeing Royalty
where he could, had a ſimilar, though humbler eſcorte of Pole-
Axes, when he was Lord High Chancellor : for beſides his Two
Crofs-Bearers, as Arch-Biſhop, and hỉs Two Pillar-Bearers, as
Cardinal, mounted on great Horſes, who preceded him, he had
likewiſe, when he went to Weſtminſter-Hall, on his mule, as
* It is a little fingular that they are not here mentioned on the Coronation of
Louis XIV. (1654) where I find from another account they made a part of the
cavalcade on the King's return from the cathedral of Rheims to the Palace of the
Arch-biſhop, being ſtyled, " Les cent Gentils-hommes de la Maiſon du Roy
ayec leurs Becs de Corbin." [See le Sacre de Lous XIV. printed at Paris,
-1720, 12mo. p. 332.] Monfieur Menin, in his general deſcription of the Co-
tonation of the Kings and Queens of France, [Lnº. 1755, 8vo. p. 159] like-
wiſe gives them a {pecific place at all Coronatione:-and yet they are not men-
tioned in the printed account of the Coronation of the preſent King Louis XVI.
0775) publiſhed at the moment.
Lord
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
2 L
1
Lord Chancellor, four Gentlemen on foot about his perſon,
bearing each a Pole- Axe in his hand *
But to proceed. It is very clear, if this Body of SPEARS ever
was difbanded, that the period of the revival muſt have been
egregiouſly miſtaken ; for in the year 1526, the Corps ftands
thus in the Statutes of Eltham.
A CAPTAIN, with the Salary of
200 Marks
A LIEUTENANT,
100 Pounds
A STANDARD BEARER 6,
100 Marks
Fifty GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, each 461. 135. 40.1
A CLERK of the CHEQUE
40 Pounds ģ
A HARBINGER,
18 Pounds.
This taken in the groſs is an enlargement rather than a re-
duction ; for the Captain, in the original Etabliſhment, does
not appear to have had any ſalary ll. The Standard-Bearer, the
Clerk of the Cheque, and the Harbinger, were additional officers,
* Cavendiſh's Life of Wolſey, p. 29. Sir Thomas More, in a Speech to the
Houſe of Commons was not a little ſevere upon the Cardinal, on account of his
Pole-Axes. [More's Life of Sir Thomas More, p. 51.] He had alſo Yeomen of
his Guard. Cavendiſh, p. 203
# The cotreſponding Officer of the Yeomen of the Guard is ſtyled Enſign,
which ariſes from the French diſtinction, where the term Cornet or Standard-
bearer has always been peculiar to the Horſe, and that of Enſign to the Foot, as
we now uſe them. (V. P. Daniel, Hif. de la Milice Françoiſe, Tom. II. p. 64.]
Apparently a fingular ſum--but it will analyze into ſeventy Marks, an uſual
Howfhold computation, when wages did not run per diem.
This was then an office of ſuch buſineſs and attendance, and therefore me-
rited a large ſalary; for ſuch 401. was at that time.
| The Captain at the Inſtitution had probably the allowance of a Gown only,
in like manner as the Captain of the Yeomen had till the: Reſtoration,
and
:
22
The King's Honourable Band
and as to what regards the Penfioners themſelves, this account
'is ſo free from error that they are mentioned by name *.
We have now, Sir, got a Standard-Bearer, and you will aſk
what was the device upon the Standard? I muft refer you to
Dr. Chamberlayne's Angliæ Notitia of the year 1672, who
tells us.it was St. George's Croſs, and that it was likewiſe four
Bends : but in this laſt. bearing he does not give the colour of
the field, or of the Charge. The former of theſe is obvi-
ous; but the latter is not ſo ſolvable, unleſs it can be pre-
ſumed (if the authority is allowed) that the Band had Two
Standards ; the one to be uſed when they muſtered before the
King, and the other on their private or periodical muſters, and
which might very well carry the Arms, Creſt, or Device of
one of their CAPTAINS.
It cannot be ſuppoſed that at this period there ſhould be a
Standard-Bearer without a Standard, though the office is ſo cir-
cumſtanced at preſent ; nay, there is good reaſon to think there
actually were two Standards in the reign of K. Edward VI. for
in a MS. account of the payment of fundry officers of houſ-
hold, in the fixth year of that King, I find a payment “ to
“ John Pyers, Clerk of the Cheque to the Guard, for the hire
66 of a houſe to lay the Great Standards, with the rich Coats
6 and Halberds--. 145. 8d." This ſeems, primâ facie, to re-
late. both to the Penfioners and the Yeomen ; but it will appear
that the Yeomen had no Officer of
the denomination of Enhgn, till after the Reſtoration. The
rich Coats and Halberds I place to their account; but the Stan-
* Vid. poftea, where, at the cloſe of this Reign, the Names are given.
dards
!
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
23
*
dards muſt (for the reaſon given) be confined to the PensioNERS,
and comprehend the Two belonging to the BAND *
Leaving theſe Gentlemen in the year 1526, in the ſtate we
have ſeen, they are found avowedly by all the chroniclers not
inconſpicuous on the ceremonial of the reception of the Princeſs
Anne of Cleves (1539) for though it is well known, that
the match was not only political, but, after a previous inter-
view at Rocheſter, diſguſting to the King , yet he determined
to pay the Princeſs all poſſible reſpect, and her Highneſs was
received with great ſtate by the King and his ſuite on Black-
heath; at the foot of Shooter's Hill. She ws accordingly ac-
commodated in a rich pavillion, till the King and his traini
arrived, when he was accompanied by the Corporation of Lon-
don, Knights, and Eſquires, and the proceſfion was cloſed by
the Fifty GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS. Of this Body each had
Two Horſes, one for himſelf and the other for an attendant,
and accordingly my author (Holingſhed) goes on, and tells us,
that, "behind the GENTLEMEN ftood the ſerving-men" (the
Couftillsj « in good order, well horfed and apparelled; that
* As to the King's Great Standard, there was at this time and long afterwards,
an official Standard-bearer, fuch were in the reign of King Hen. VIII
. the two Sir
Anthony Brownes (father and son) and'the King's Great Standard would hardly be
configned to the care of the Clerk of the 'Cheque-of the roomen of the Gáard. Froin
whence Dr. Chamberlayne took his information I cannot perceive; but on a
rearer, examination it might originate from a paſſable error, ariſing from igno-
fance of inatttention, and in ſuch caſe the ſubordinate Standard has the appear-
ance of carrying the Armorial Bearing of one of the Captains of the Band, whom
I take to have been the ſecond Sir Anthony Browne, and who will appear to have
fucceeded, the Earl of Elex in the commando. The Arms of Sir Anthony, were
(as now borne by his deſcendant Viſcount Montacute)." Sable, three. Lions paſſant :
« in Bend, between two double Cotiſes, Argent." On which I would remark,
that, the Lions being overlooked by an unſkilful obſerver, the two double Cotiſes
in the Blazon have tranfiently the appearance of four Bends.
66 whoſoever
-"
24
The King's Honourable Band
“ whoſoever had well viewed them might have ſaid, that they,
- for tall and comely perſonages, and clean of limb and body,
" were able to give the greateſt Prince in Chriſtendom a mor-
66 tal breakfaſt, if he had been the King's enemy.”
The King advancing on horſeback, with his attendants,
ſtopped when he arrived at the end of the rank of the Pen-
ŞIONERS, and the interview took place, during wbich the
" Fifty PENSIONERS, with the Guard, departed to furniſh the
6 Hall at Greenwich.” Here accordingly we find then again
when the King and his intended Queen arrived there; for,
below the hearth in the Hall were placed the [Yeomen of the]
Guard, and above the hearth “The Fifty PENSIONERS with
65 their Battle-Axes *." From this account we may obſerve,
that the Corps was at that time a troop, ſimilar to what we now,
in the military line, call Dragoons ; ſerving on horſebeck, when
the King was in the Field, and other occaſions, within the
Court, : on foot. In both theſe characters we have ſeen them
on the reception of the Lady Anne of Cleves -firſt, on horſe-
back at Blackheath, and immediately afterwards an foot in the
Hall at the Palace of Greenwich.
Soon after this period, fome latitude was given to the Band,
in point of attendance, and it was allowed that half the Band
fhould wait quarterly, except on the principal Feafts. Whether
this aroſe from the ſeverity of the then duty, or to relieve the
Gentlemen in point of expence, does not appear. The following
however are the orders which iſſued after the Earl of Eſex had
i
1
* Holingſhed. The King's Hall, by this deſcription, feems to have had the
fire in the centre, as in the halls of colleges, inns of court, and other ſocieties.
1.
reſigned
4
.
-
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
25
1
!
reſigned the command, and when Sir Anthony Browne was
CAPTAIN of the Band *.
Where[as] it bath pleaſed the King's Majeſty, at the ſpecial
“ fute of Sir Anthony Browne, Knighte and Captaine of bis Ma-
“ jeſty's Gentlemen Penconers, to graunt and enlarge his High-
6 nes' ſaid Penconers to the libtie of Quarter-waiters, by the Checke,
- as is in an article before menconed, so that continually thone
"halfe of them ſhall be attendaunt without any excuſe of ficknes
" or otherwiſe; but that he or they that ſhall fortune to be ficke, or
" have any other lett within his faide Quarter, mall, for the tyine
" of his abſence, fynde. one of his Companye that ſhal be oute of bis
" Quarter to waite upon the King's Majeſty, and to furniſhe his
place, or ells to be in daunger of the Check; and the other halfe
"for the meane tyme of theire halfe. yere so by the quarter to be
- taken att their libertye.
6 Item, The whole Band of the ſaid Gentlemen Penconers, at
“the fower principall Feafts of the yeare, that is to Jaye, Chriſtmas,
6 Eſter, Whitfontid, Alhollontyd, shall give theire attendaunce
under Check as they now doe.
“ Item, In confideracon whereof, whereas nowe they are bounden
" to the findinge of Twoe Greate Horfis only, they mall each one,
" from henceforthe, keepe Three Horſes furniſhed accordingly.
* In what year Henry Bourchier, Earl of Eſſex, reſigned, is not preciſely de-
terminable ; but his death is mentioned by ſeveral hiſtorians, (particularly by
Biſhop Godwin) as having taken place by a fall from an unruly horſe, 1540.
The Orders which we are going to tranſcribe are a ſufficient aſcertainment
that the Earl did not die in the Command, but that Sir Anthony ſucceeded him
in his life-time.-Sir John Peachy, the firſt Lieutenant of the Band, ſeems likewiſe
to have cloſed his life in an unfortunate manner; for he either died of the
plague, or by a ſlow poiſon, ſuppoſed to be given to him at the banquet made at
Ardres, when K. Henry VIII. and K. Francis I. had the Grand Interview, 1520.
(Vid. Hall's Chron. Hen. VIII. pp. 89. 91. b.] He was a Knight-Banneret,
having been made fuch, 1513. [Id. p. 33. b.]
D
“ Item,
26
The KING's Honourable Band
1
“ Item, Notwithſtandinge ibis graunte of libtie they be neverther
“ leſe at all Igmes in ſuche a readynes, that when warninge Shall
“ be given unto them from the Officers above them, they and every
" of them ſball, accordinge to the fame, repaire to the Courte, and
give fuche attendaunce for the tyme as ſhall be appointed unto
" them uſinge for that ſeafone, be it in theire Quarter ar ather-
“ wife, no lefe deligence then they doe at the preſent, as apptayn-
otetbe *"
We have but very tranſient views of the Band in this reign
after the period laft mentioned, except that the Gentlemen ſeem
to have attended the King on all occafions, in the military as
well as the civil line, . Thus, according to Lord Herbert, they
eſcorted his Majeſty at his Grand Entrée into Boulogne, after it
was taken (1544), with the Earl of Efex at their head to Ano-
ther writer, Strype (Memorials, Vol. II. p. 115] likewiſe tells.
us that they were with the King at the fiege of that city, to
the number of Two Hundred, including a retinue of Three to
each PENSIONER, all mounted « on barded I horſes, in one
w Suit
Bibl. Harl. N.
.6142.
+ William Parr, Earl of Effux; afterwards Marquis of Northampton, who, it
is preſuinable, fucceeded Sir Anthony Browne in the command, when he was
made Maſter of the Horſe, 1540. This new Earl of Efex was in very high
eſtimation with the King, who had married his fiſter, ſtrengthened by the Earl's.
own marriage with his Majeſty's ſecond coufin, the ſole daughter and he reſs of
Henry Bourchier, late Earl of Eflex.
By. Barded: horſes, I underſtand horſes fully armed, on their Façes, Manes,
and Cheſts, and otherwiſe capaxiſoned; from the French Verb Barder, which,
according to the gloffariſts, fignifies to accoutre a War-Horſe. (See Cot-
grave, Richlet, &c.] Pieces of this fort of Armour are ſtill to be ſeen in the
Tower of London. The words Barded and Barbed are often uſed as ſynonymous
terms, though they, perhaps, have their diſtinctions :--Thus, in a Diary of
the Siege of Boulogne, written at the time. [Vid. Rymer's Federa, Tom. XV.)
the
}
*
.
--
mm
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS,
27.
..
6. Suit of Red aud Yellow Damaſk, the Bards of their horſes, and
« Plumes of Feathers, being of the ſame colours *."
We are now brought, Sir, very near to the demiſe of the
Inſtitutor of the BAND ; but I cannot diſmiſs this reign without
troubling you with a Liſt of the Gentlemen (as it ſtood at the
time when the Eltham Statutes were made, in the year 1526),
the major part of whom were probably the original appointees.
In this roll will be found the names of many reſpectable per-
fons, who either were Caders of Families then of conſiderable
account, or were themſelves the Heads of Families afterwards
ennobled.
A Liſt of the Band of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, as found
in the Statutes made at Eltham, in the 15th year of King
Henry VIII. A. D. 1526ť, viz.
Sir Humphrey Ratclif;
Edmund Brydges,
Thomas Alley,
Edward Earle,
Thomas Avery,
Edmund Horne,
Thomas Butler,
Edmund Harvey,
Thomas Palmer,
William Fullwood,
Henry ferningham
Edward Grimſton,
Henry Markham,
Edward Vaughan,
Edward Halings,
Humphrey Coniſby,
the horſes of the principal nobility attending the King on his departure from
Calais, are deſcribed to have been “ Barbed with Cloth of Gold.” The repre-
ſentation of a Horſe thus capariſoned, both barded and barbed (if there is a dif-
ference), may be ſeen in one of the plates of the Maneige Royal de Monf. de
Pluvinel, printed at Paris, 1623.
* Red and Yellow are the true Royal Colours; but Red and Blue, though they
have been long adopted, I apprehend, (if I may be allowed the liberty of the re-
mark) are ſubject to the charge of falſe Heraldry. Many other combinations of
colours in Regimentals are liable to the fame imputation--but diſtinction has
dered them neceſſary.
+ Tranſcribed from a copy in the Lord Chamberlain's Office.
John
ren-
D 2
1
.
28
- The King's Honourable Band
John Wing field,
Anthony Digby,
John Greſham,
John Conway,
Fobn Portmary
Chriſtopher Sackville,
fobn Banniſter
Chriſtopber Litcott,
John Pajton,
Charles Herbert,
Jaques Granados
Nicholas Wadham,
Fohn Sandes,
Peter Carew,
Robert Long,
Simon Digby,
Richard Tyrrell,
Stephen Adams,
William. Blunt,
Francis Hacke,
William Palmer,
Robert Stafford,
William Keylwey,
Nicholas Arnold, 461. 135. 4d.
William Skipwith,
each,
Tilliam Ellerker,
William Bonham,
Walter Bonham,
CLK OF THE CHEQUE, } 40 Pounds
William Francis,
William.
William Betts,
HARBINGER, [Jolin
} 18 Pounds.
Francis Knowlys;
Morey]
The CAPTAIN,
200 Marks
Gawen Carey,
The LIEUTENANT,
100 Pounds.
George Pollard,
The STANDARD-
Giles Poole,
BEARE Ry
100 Marks
It would be a fruitleſs labour to attempt to preſerve ſucceſ.
fional liſts of the Gentlemen of the Band, or of the ſubaltern
Officers.; but the names and titles of ſuch of the CAPTAINS,
as I have been able to collect with authority, are inſerted in:
the Appendix. N° L.
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
29
,
!
Io the Reign of K. EDWARD THE SIXTH, Sir, we find frequent
and familiar mention of the Band, even by the King himſelf,
in his Journal. The firſt appearance of the PensionERS was,
as it is natural to ſuppoſe, in proceſſion from the Tower to
Weſtmivſter, on the day preceding the Coronation, when
" The PENSIONERS and Men of Armes, 'with their Pole- Axes,
- went on either ſide the way on foote*.” By this arrangement
they were placed longitudinally, at proper diſtances, ſo that,
as appears from the ceremonial, the King was as nearly as might
be in the centre of his Band of PENSIONERS. On the day of
the Coronation the King landed in the morning at the Privy
Stairs, where again we find the “ PENSIONERS apparelled all
in red Damaſke, with their Pole- Axes in their hands:". and in
the Proceſſion to the Abbey they followed the Peers in the rear,
iminediately before the Yeomen of the Guard upir.
In this and the following Reign, though both of them were
ſo ſhort, we ſhall find the BAND in an active line at home, and
not immaterially concerned in times of inquietude,, when the
Sovereign was alarmed by impending dạnger. The next View
we have of it is in a Grand Muſter of all the Bands retailed in
the King's ſervice, which I ſhall preſently give at large, partly
from the King's Journal, bút principally from a more enlarged
account, once in the Cottonian Library I.
It was the cuſtom of thoſe times for moſt of the Great Of-
fieers to have Bands of Mon of Arms, lrorfed, and in Arinour,
who occaſionally muſtered before the King, together with the
* Leland's Collectanca, Vol. IV. p. 312.
+ Idem, pp. 322. 324.
Vitellius, F. 5. printed in Strype's Meinorials, Vol. II. p. 200. [The
MS. was deſtroyed by the fire, and therefore this preſervation is of more value.]
The King's Journal is prin-ed in Biſhop'Burnet's Hiſtory of the Reforination,
Vol. Ile The Aintegraph may be ſeen in the Coitonian Library, Nero.C. X.
BAND
30
The King's Honourable Band
Band of PENSIONERS, 'The King's Band muſtered under the
Royal Banner #, and the reſt under the Banner of their reſpec-
tive Commanders. Theſe the King calls in his Journal Gen-
darmes, when he ſpeaks of them ſeparately; and collectively, the
Gendarmerie. The general Muſter I have mentioned took place
in the year 1951, of which the following account is given by
Strypet.
" The King was now minded to ſee his ſtanding Forces,
" Horſe and Foot, muſter before him; and the rather that he
might be in a readineſs in caſe any Riſing might happen, as'
" was apprehended by the diſcontented Duke of Somerſet and
“ his party. So there were letters written and directed to cer-
“ tain of the Chief Officers of the Army to have the Gendar-
mory and Bands of Horfemin, which were appointed there in
a readineſs to be ſeen by his Majeſty. And a letter was dif- .
“ patched to the Marquis of Northampton, CAPTAIN of the
“ BAND of PensIONERS, to have the Band appointed him in
a readineſs with ALL the PENSIONERS and Men of Arms
« attending on the Court.
66 In Hyde Park was then a great Muſter in the King's Pré-
66 fence after this manner. Firſt came the King's Trum-
“ peters—Then,
1
1
.
* In a M$. account of the Payments made to fundry Officers of Houſhold in
the 6th year of K. Edw. VI. I meet with a Standard-Bearer with a Salary of 100l.
per annum, and a Banner-Bearer, with 40l. per annum. The like Officers are
found in the eſtabliſhment of K. James I. in Off, Arm.
+ Memorials, V. II. p. 284. It is mentioned in Stowe's Chronicle, as is ano-
ther Muſter in the year following; wherein, by the way, he gives the number
of Tenſioners at 150, meaning, no doubt, to include their Retinue, for he de-
ſcribes each Penſioner as having two Great Horſes and a Gelding.
3
6. The
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
31
"The LORD BRAY, in gilt: Harneſs, CAPTAIN of the
* PENSIONERS and a Great Banner of the KING'S Arms *
66 Then,
“ All the PENSIONERS, in complete Harneſs, and great ar-
ray in White and Black, five and five in a Rank ; and after
" them came their ſervants, in number an Hundred, with
* Great Horſes and Harrefs, in White and Black, with Spears.
• The ſecond Company was led by,
6. The LORD TREASURER ", being an Hundred Men of
Arms, with broidered Coats, Red and White, with Spears :
66 his Standard a Falcon of Gold.
65. The third Company belonged to
16 The Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND 2, being an Hundred
46 Men of Arms, in Velvet Embroidery, with Trumpeters:
« his Standard a Lion crowned and ragged (raguled] Staff.
4. The fourth Captain was,
6 The LORD MARQUIS of NORTHAMPTON 3, with an Hun .
“ dred Men of Arms, in Yellow and Black; Spears, Penſils,
66 and Trumpeters: his Standard. the Maiden's Head.
66 The
..
* He ſhould rather be called Commander of the Penſioners, as being only LIEU-
TENANT of the Band: for it has appeared that the MARQUIS of NORTHAMP-
TON was the CAPTAIN, though, on this occafion, he muftered as LORD. HIGH
CHAMBERLAIN with an Hundred Men of Arms in Yellow and Black (his armo-
rial Colours) under his own ſtandard. The Comaand of the Penſioners: there-
fore devolved upon the Lieutenant Lord Bray.
* Willian Pawlet; Marquis of Wincheſter. (Dugd. Bar.}
John Dudley, Lord High Admiral, Steward of the Houſhold, &e. [Dugd.
Bar. ]
3 IVilliam Parr, Lord High Chamberlain, &c. The fortunes of this Noble-
man :
1
1
1
32
The King's Honourable Band
:
• The fifth (was]
“ The EARL of BEDFORD 4, with an Hundred Men of Arms
6 in Red and White; his Standard a Goat, White: a Trum-
“peter, Penſils, and Spears.
" The fixth (was]
" The EARL of RUTLAND 5, with an Hundred Men of
“ Arms, in Yellow and Blue; his Standard a Peacock, and Pen-
66 fils.
/
man were fingularly unequal. From a private gentleman he had ariſen to
uncominon honours, by virtue of his ſiſter's marriage with King Henry
the Eighth. His firſt Office was no greater than that of an Eſquire of the
Body to King Henry: he was afterwards created Baron Parr, and Earl of
Effex, (as we have ſeen him at the fiege of Boulogne) and elected a Knight
of the Garter. In the firſt year of King Edward the Sixth, we find him Mar-
quis of Northampton, Captain of the Band of Penſioners; and in the King's
fourth
year Lord Great Chamberlain (for life) on the ſurrender of the Earl of
Warwick. [Dugdale's Baronage.] Theſe accumulatad Honours and Offices did
not laſt long; for on the King's demiſe, his Lordſhip unfortunately efpoufing
the claim of Lady Jane Grey, jointly with the Duke of Northumberland, in op-
poſition to Queen Mary, was attainted; deprived of all his Offices, and his
Eſtate ; degraded from the Order of the Garter ; and reduced to the humble rank
of William Parr, Eſq. Notwithſtanding all theſe deprivations, he was reſtored
in blood by Queen Mary, and by Queen Elizabeth re-created into his former
Honours ; re-elected a Knight of the Garter, and inſtalled a ſecond time. A. D.
1559. [Anſtis's Regiſter of the Garter.]
4 John Ruſel, Keeper of the Privy-Seal. [Godwin's Annals, and the King's
Journal.]
$ Henry Manners, Warden of the Eaſt and Middle Marches towards Scotland.
[Dugd. Bar.]
when
66 The
22
A
1
3
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS,
33
- The Seventh (was]
- The EARL of HUNTINGDON 6, with Fifty Men of Armes,
“ in Blue; Spears, Standard, and Penſils : his Standard a
66 Manche.
• The eighth (was]
6. The EARL of PEMBROKE 7, an Hundred Men of Armes :
66 his Standard the Green Dragon,
.
1
:
66 The ninth (was)
(Tlie Lord CƠBHAM 8, with Fifty Men of Armes, in Black
6. and White : his Standard the Saracen's Head.
« The tenth (was]
6. The LORD CHAMBERLAIN%, with Fifty Men of Armes,
• Coats of White and Red, and Spears: their Coats in Broi-
" dery, Penſils, his Standard the Maiden's Body.
6. The eleventh (was] :
“ Mr. TREASURER Chérney", with an Hundred Men of
8
• Francis Haſtings (ſecond Earl of Huntingdon), a Privy Counſellor and Knight
of the Garter. He was employed in a military character in the 4th of Edw. VI.
againſt the French. [Dugdale's Bar.] I do not obſerve that he had then any great
poſt at home.
7 William Herbert, Maſter of the Horſe. [Eugdale's Bar.
George Brooke, Lord.Cobhani. [Dugdale's Bar.) He does not appear to have
then had any Office of importance. .
9 Thomas D'Arcy, Lord D'Arcy,, of Chiche. [King Edward's Journal, ſub
anno 1550. Vid. alſo, Anſtis's Reg. of the Garter.] Dugdale does not mention
him as Lord Chamberlain.
19 Sir Thomas Cheyney, Knight of the Garter, Treaſurer of the Houfhold.
« [Dugdale's Bar.]
E.
6. Armes,
!
34.
The KING'S Honourable Band
“ Armes, all Black, Spears, and Penfils, beſides Coffrels: his-
6. Standard the Rofe in the Sun*."
The King, Sir, ſeems to have receiveď much ſatisfaction front
the appearance made by his BAND. of PENSIONERS and their Rex
tinue on this occaſion ; for, to give you his own words, he de-
fcribes them to have been “ well armed men; fome with Fea-
w thers, Staves, and Penfils: of their Colours; ſome with Sleeves
" and Half Coats; fome with Bards and Staves, &c.” This want:
of uniformity may rather ſtrike us at preſent, though I preſume-
it was an immaterial circumſtance at the time. The King then:
adds, that “ the horſes (were all fair and great, the worſt
w would not have been given for leſs than Twenty, Pounds :: there-
“ was (were] pone under fourteen handfull and a half the moft:
part, and almoſt all the Horſes with their Guider + going be-
ور
* There is ſome variation in the numbers as ſummarily mentioned in the
King's. Journal, and the Earl of Bedford is omitted. Though. I have termed the
BAND of PÈNSIONERS demi-military, yet we may obſerve,. from the Rank the
GENTLEMEN here- held among the ſtanding forces, that they were conſidered
as the prime of the army. So P. Daniel, ſpeaking of The Hundred Gentlemen
(che Becs de Corbin) ſays—«. Ils etoient le principal corps de l'Armée." (De las
Milice Françoiſe, II. p. 107.)
+ Great. Horſes were at that time called Dexters, from the French Deftriery
being led to the field by a ſervant (the Guider). with his-Right Hand. [Vid. Me-
moires ſur l'ancienne Chevalerie,, par Mónf. de Ste. Palaye, tom. I. p. 21,] His
words are, ſpeaking of War-horſes, that they were led." Par des Ecuyers qui
" les tenoient à leur droite d'ou on les a appellés Deſtriers :" But the expreſſion is.
fill more explicit in a note on this paſſage, where it is ſaid, the Eſquire whe:
fed the Knight's horſe. Menoit fon Deftrieren Deſire.". In more modern ac-
counts (of the laſt century, for inſtance) I find them.called Chevaux de Main, and
the leaders.ſtyled Palfreniers. (Vid. Cou ſes de Teſtes et de Bague, Paris, 1670.).
The Latin ward is Dextrani.
66 fore.
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
35
:
* fore them. They paſſed twice about St. James's Field, and
“ compaffed it round and ſo departed *."
Theſe Muſters had their uſe in home-ſervice occaſionally, in
defending marches, oppoſing inſurrections, &c. and the prime
Nobility were thereby inured to the exerciſe of Arms. Some-
times the Bands performed mock fights and fieges, of which
the King, in his Journal, mentions one in his ſecond year,
where thirty Gentlemen defended a fortreſs at Greenwich againſt
an hundred aſſailants. Beſides theſe, juſts and tournaments,
running, ſhooting, &c. were in frequent uſe, wherein this
young and active Monarch (who may in his time be properly
ſtyled Princeps fuventutis) bore a part, as he tells us himſelf.
- A Challenge," ſays the King of, 6 was made by Me, that I,
“ with Sixteen of my Chamber, ſhould Run at Baſe I, Shoot,
" and Run at the Ring §, with any Seventeen of my Servants,
“ GENTLEMEN in the Court." Among thoſe who entered the
Lifts againſt the King, it is natural to ſuppoſe there would be
ſeveral of the younger and moſt active of the BAND of Gen-
TLEMEN PENSIONERS, as men trained to athletic Exerciſes,
glad to ſignalize themſelves, and provoke the King's notice in
ſuch honourable encounters.
Stowe
* Journal. What was then St. James's Field is now Pall-Mall, the adjacent
ſtreets, &c. (See a View of St. James's Palace and Weſtminſter Abbey, from the
Village of Charing, engraved from a drawing of Hollar, in the Antiquarian Re-
pertory, Vol. I. facing p. 197.] It is worth remarking, tl:at there was ſo little
connedion between the City of London and this Village, in the reign of King
Henry VIII, that an Act of Parliament was made, 1533, to mend the road be-
tween the Strand-Croſs (where the New-Church now Itands) and Charing-Croſs,
it having become almoſt impaſſable. This act is printed in Raftall's Statutes.
t Journal.
This Diverſion, by fome called Priſon-Baſe, and by others Priſon-Bars, is
ftill known in ſeveral parts of England.
§ I muſt here, Sir, beg leave to trouble you with a long Note. As few traces
of thiş old diverſion of Running at the Ring now remain, I take the liberty of
drawing
E 2
36.
The King's Honourable Bund
Stowi mentions another Muſter made at Greenwich, in the
laſt year of the King's reign, to which the Journal does not ex-
tend,
drawing together what has occurred to me on the ſubject. The practice is held
not to be very ancient, and indeed, from the little comparative exertion required,
ſteins rather to have ſucceeded Tilts and Tournaments, after the rage for perſonál.
' engagements was worn out. It is, however, old enough to be almoſt forgotten.
A - French Writer (Monſieur de Pluvinel *) is of opinion that it was firſt
adopted by officers of the Cavalry when in garriſon, or when unemployed; by
which means they preſerved their horſes in exerciſe, and theinſelves in the uſe and
management of the Lance. The party, in order to retain every branch of diſcip.
Jine, was armed at all points. — The horſe was put to his full ſpeed, and the ring
was of a very finall diameter, and, according to Mr. de Pluvinal it was no lar
than a man's 'eye t. Its poſition will be defcribed prefently, Gallantry, as in
Tournaments, was generally the encouragement to this exerciſe; for our author
tells us, it was uſual for a Ludy to give a Ring of value to be contended for by:
the candidates, which the beſtowed on the winner with lier own hand, and fuch
reward has been perſonally conferred by Queens 'themſelves. Public folemnities
of various forts were the decafions when the practice was exhibited, attended with:
much parade, and it ſeems to have continued in uſe till the end of the 16th and
the beginning of the 17th century, af.er which it vaniſhed both in England and
in France; though I have authority to ſay, it is uſed at this day, by the Gentry,
in ſeveral parts of Germany.
To have a nearer view of the poſition of the Ring, and: the mode of Running at:
it, we muſt advert to foine of the plates in Mr. de. Pluvinel's work, where the
Ring is repreſented as pendent from a kind of gibbet, being ſuſpended from the
horizontal bcam by a ſpring which yielded to the touch, ſo as not to endanger:
the repulſe of the horſeman in his career. Tlte ſpecies of Lance made uſe of ap-
pears to have been adapsed to the purpoſe, being ſo ſlender as to receive the Ring.
with eaſe, and nearly as taper at the point as a ſmall ſword.' There is a plate
likewiſe on an inſerior feale, which ſhews the poſition of the Ring, and the at-
titudes of the parties, to be ſeen (though without any deſcription) in a ſmall fo-
lio, intitled, “ Militarie Inſtructions for the Cavalrie; by J.C. printed at Cam-
bridge,
* Firſt Equerry and Riding-Maſter to Louis XIII. and who publiſhed a work on Horſemanſhip,
with Plates, intitled, Le Maneige Ro; al. [Paris, 1623).
☆ Frote the drawing given by Mr.de: Pluvinel, it appears however to have a diameter of two.
inches at lcalt.
i
A
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
3*
1
A
1
tend, where the Captain of the Penſioners (the Marquis of
Northampton) muſtered again as High: Chamberlain ; and
the
...
i
(
“ bridg?, 1632. [Page 36]. One of the horſemen there reprefer.ted (of which
there are three) is running to take up a Glove from the ground on ilie point of
his Spear, which will explain what occurs preſently. The Glove, I prefume,
was thrown down by a Lady.
.*. There was a magnificent Running at the Ring held at Páris, by Louis XIV.
-61662); but nothing is to be diſcerned from it for our ſatisfaction, except that
the Queen herſelf delivered the Reward, a Diamond Ring, to the Winner, the
principal objects for our preſent obfüivations being obſcured by the inultiplicity of
Figures in the Plate *.
As to the rules generally adhered to in this exerciſe, I have found them no
where except in a very obſcure pamphlet now before meg, containing the ceremo-
nial of the Baptiſin of Henry Prince of Wales, performed at Edinburgh, A. D.
1594, and of the public entertainments conſequent upon itl.give the words
as I find then..
“Every lackie carrying iò his hand: his Maiſter’s Launce, they began their
6 paſtime by Riinning at the Ring and Glove 1; the Laws whereof. were theſe:
That a'l the perſons of this paſtime coinpeare marked, and in ſuch Order as
" they come into the Field, fo to run out all their courſes.
That none uſe any otber Ring but that which is put up: and uſe no other
65 Launce hút rhat which they have brought for themſelves. .
3. He that twice touches the "Ring, or ſtirs it, winäeth as muche [as] if he
- carried away the Ring ll:
4. He that lets his Launce.fall out of his hand is deprived of all the reſt of his
66 courſes.
>
.
I.
The account of this Ceremonial, forfo it may be called, with very fine Engravings, was pub-
liſhed at Paris, 1670, of which there is a good impreſſion in the Britiſh Muſeum.
+ This account was firſt printed at London, 1603, (Duodecimo) and afterwards. reprinted at:
Edinburgh, 1685. Dr. Birch ſeems to have been ignorant of this publication.
I Sce above.
|| This ſeems to have been either a previous article by coifert, or conformable to the cuſtom of
the country, as, in the account given by King Edwarl, it did not reckon; for we arc told in the
Journal, that his Majeſty's.party touche: the Ring often, " which was counted as nothing."
.
.
5. That
1
E
1
HA
1
33
1
The King's Honourable Band
the Lord Bray (the Lieutenant) had the command of the Per-
fioners. Other timnilar matters occur in different authors, not worth
inſiſting upon.
Theſe private Companies of Band-Men, as the King calls
them, ſeem to have been, for the moſt part, provided for, in
point of expence, by the King; though the men were to be
found by the Captain, and evidently were diſpoſed of according
to his Majeſty's pleaſure. Thus, from the King's Journal, it
appears, that the Band which the Duke of Somerſet had, was,
after his attainder, appointed to the Duke of Suffolk, The
Duke of Northumberland having under him an Hundred Men
of Arms, and an 'Hundred Light Horſe, reſigned Fifty Men of
5. That every one run with looſe reins, and with as much ſpeed as his borſe :
" hath.
46. That none after his Race, in up-taking of his Horſe, lay his Launce upon
“ his Moulder, under the pain of loſe of that which he hath done in kis
66 courſe.
He that carrieth not his Launce under his arme, loſeth his courſe,
" 8. That none, until his three courſes be ended, chaunge his horſe, if he be
6 not hurt, or upon ſome other conſideration moved to chaunge him."
The reſult on this occaſion was, that, sc Proof being made, the Vidory fell to
" the Duke of. ' Lennox, who bringing it [the Ring I preſuine) to his Side and
« Partie, had the Praiſe and Prize adjudged to himſelf.” The Reward is de-
..
fcribed to have been a fair and rich Ring of Diamonds," given by the QUEEN.
1
1
I finiſh this Note by obſerving, from King Edward's account, how difficult it
was to carry the Prize'; for his Majeſty tells us, that in One Hundred and Twenty .
Courſes the Ring was taken but Ihree times *
Sce the King's Journal, p. 26.
Arms
1
.
:.
.
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERŞ.
.39
Arms to his ſon the Earl of Warwick *. Again, when the Earl
of Pembroke quitted the office of Maſter of the Horſe, he like-
wiſe gave up Fifty of his Men of Arms, as being a command
under the King, which were equally divided between-Sir Phi-
lip Hobbey and Sir John Gatest : the reſt the Earl kert, as
being his own licenced retainers to
As the formation of theſe bodies was at the pleaſure of the
King, by letters from the Courcil-Board, ſo was their diffolu-
tion. The King tells us, in his Journal, that it was agreed (in
Council, I preſume, from whence every public act, excluſive
of the Parliament, iſſued) that “ the Bands of Men of Arms
“ appointed to: Mr. Sidney, Mr. Vice-Chamberlain (Sir John.
.
1
* Journals
# Tournali
Though the raiſing theſe Bands lay upon their Captains refpectively; yet
the Pay for thein did not cominence-vill the Corps was.completed.. Thus it ap-
pears in the 2ift year of King Henry Vl. that fome Lord (not mentioned by
name), who had deſired to have wagės. advanced, to liim before lie niade his Mura
ter, was anſwered by the Privy Councit, that". In the King's time that dead is, nei-
*ther my Lord- of Bedford-ş, neither my Lord of Glouceſter şs never begun
" of their wares for them of their retinues, unto (un:ill].the time that they
" had made their whole mufters." We may obſerve how rigid the Council was.
in this reſpect from what follows,. viz.and my Lord of Glouceſter, for lack of
“ two Spears of his retinue, was not allowej.” [Bibl. Ha l. No. 81.] In.
theſe common Bands, as they were ftyled, great abuſes were found in the-
reign of King Edward VI. [Strype's Memorials, Vali 11. p. 148.] As to what
we now.call Règiments, they ſeem to have been adopted by us froin France;-
where they were firſt eſtabliſhed in the Reign or. Charles the Ninth, about' the
xear 1.569, [Pere Daniel, Hift. de France). The Frencli herein probably.followedi
the Spaniards, for the term.is Spaniſh-Regimiento..
Bath of them Brothers to King Henry Vo.
4. Gates)
1
-
-
.
1
.
1
1
+
The KING's Honourable Band
40
1
Gates], 'Mr. Hobbcy, and Mr. Sadler, thould not be fur-
" 'niſhed, but leſt off*."
"That theſe Bands were profitable as well as honourable to the
Captain, is teftified by Sir Robert Cary (afterwards Earl of
Monmouth) whoʻlad a command upon the Middle March of
Scotland under Queen Elizabeth, and Jaments, that on the acceſ-
fion of King Jaines, he loſt the Pay of Forty Horſe which the
Queen had given him. Theſe Horſemen he had before de-
fcribed to be for the moſt part the Servants of hịs Houſhold,
whích, to uſe his own words, were șs Gentlemens Sons in the
“.country, and Younger Brothers;of good Rankt."
In the higher Line, of which we have been ſpeaking, the
Men of Arms were proportionably of greater Quality, viz. the
Younger Sons of the Nobility, of Bannerets,' &c. It was at
this period an honour and no indignity for the young Nobility
to be enrolled under another gallant Commander, though of
inferior rank ; and we are told that when King Henry VIII.
had acquired reputation in his firſt war, and took the part of
Spain againſt Louis XII. King of France, the Emperor Maxi-
milian I. did not diſdain to ſerve under the King I. To rețurn, -
Sir,
i
.
* Journal. Mr. or Maſter was, at that time, often applied to Knights as well
as Gentlemen ; for hereby are meant Sir Henry Sídney-Şir Philip Hobbey-and
Sir Ralph Sadler, the laſt of whom' was at that time a 'Knight-Banneret, as ap
pears from the preceding part of the King's Journal.
+ Memoirs, p. 113. From hence it ſhould ſeếm that theſe Cådets wëre inerely
expectants, and ſerved without pay." Sir Robert farther infinuates that' the
diſcharge of this Troop would be no inconſiderable faving to the Crown.
fact, there was no occaſion for ſuch Forces on the Marches, after the Union of
the Two Crowns.
Burnet’s Hiſtory of the Reformation. The Emperor ånd all his Band wore
the Croſs of St George and the Union Rofe on their breaſts. (Vid. Mich. Drayton's
3
Heroical
In,
4
1
S
1
1
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
41
I
66 the
Sir, to the KING's Band of GenTLEMEN PENSIONERS. We
have juſt now ſeen them drawn out ainong the Gendarmerie,
and in the Field under the King's Banner, and had it not been
for the timely diſcovery of the Duke of Somerſet's Conſpiracy
we ſhould have found them in action ; for it was one part of
Somerſet's traiterous intentions to have attacked the whole
Gendarmerie, on a Muſter-day, .with two thouſand Footmen
belonging to Sir Henry Vane, and with an Hundred of his own
Horſemen, beſides others in his intereſt, who were to have at
firſt appeared in the Field as ſimple ſpectators of the Muſter.
This was confeſſed by Sir Thomas Palmer, one of the Conſpi-
rators * The intention was bloody ; for the King ſays,
“ Duke intended no quarter, and that all the Horſe of the Gen-
“ darmerie were to have been ſlain t." Sir Henry Vane's part
in this intended maſſacre very deſervedly coſt him his life,
We will now, Sir, revert to the Band in a more quier hour.
When the Q. Dowager of Scotland, paſſing from France thither
(1550) was driven by a ſtorm into Portſmouth, and had deter-
mined to proceed by land, ſhe took the opportunity of viſiting
King Edward, and was received at Hampton-Court by many
of the Nobility of both ſexes, and by all the PENSIONERS with
their CAPTAIN and LIEUTENANT. At her departure ſhe was
likewiſe eſcorted to the extremity of the City of London by the
PENSIONERS among many others, and was there received by
the Gentlemen of the county of Middleſex 1.
The
Heroical Epifles, fol. 81, b.)-The Emperor was, indeed, a Knight of the
Garter :--but the compliment lay in his wearing the latter Badge in addition to
the former, and obliging his men to wear them both.
* Journal.
† Journal.
Journal. The Band was likewiſe occaſionally employed in Receptions of
Perſons inferior to Royalty ; for antecedent to this (1549) when the Count d'An-
F
guen
/
1
42
The King's Honourable Band
The next occaſion, Sir, when we ſee the Band, is in a pro-
greſs made by the King, in the year 1551, when we learn
from his Majeſty's Journal, that on the 16th of May, a
Muſter was made of all the Men of Arms (-with ſome exçep-
tions) and alſo of all the PENSIONERS, for the purpoſe of
draughting a certain number out of each Band for an Eſcorte.
The progreſs was long, and took up more than two months.
The King tells us what number of each Band was appointed to
attend him : but as no draught was made out of the King's
own Band (the PENSIONERS) it is preſumable. the whole went
on that ſervice. The King, however, had not been out a
month before it was neceſſary to leſſen his train, and it was
accordingly reduced to an Hundred and Fifty men, picked out of
all the Bands. The King eſtimates the Retinue to have con-
fifted of near Four Thouſand Horſe, which, ſays he, “ were
enough to eat up the country, for there was little meadow
66 or hay all the way as I went This, Sir, is the laſt view
of them, as far ar I can diſcern, during this Reign, by which,
-however, we find they had encreaſed in the number of their
attendants by the King's account: and Stowe likewiſe informs
us that they had each of them Two Great Horſes and a Gelding ;
whereas, when we laſt faw-them in the late Reign, each Pen-
froner had only two Great Horſes, or optionally one Great Horſe
and a Gelding te During the greater part of this Reign William
Pat, Marquis of Northampton appears, from the King's Jour-
nal, to have been CAPTAIN of the BAND; and from a MS. lift
of Queen Mary's Houfhold in the Library of your Society, I
guien, and others of the French Nobility, arrived in England, they were re-
ceived at Black-Heath by Lords deputed by the King, and among the reſt by
Lord Bray, at the head of the Penſioners. (Journal.)
* Journal.
+ Stowe's Chronicle.
obſerve
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
43
obſerve, he held it till his attainder, which took place in a few
weeks after the Queen's acceſſion : but whether he reſumed the
command after he was reſtored in blood, and re-eſtabliſhed in
his honours, I do not learn *.
We have already ſeen that the Marquis of Northampton,
though he was CAPTAIN of the GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, had
another Band allotted to him, as Lord Great (or High) Cham-
berlain, in favour of which laſt, (for ſo I interpret what follows,
and not as extending indiſcriminately to all the Band-men, who
were very numerous) his Lordſhip procured this Order of
Council.
" In Council at Greenwich, May II, 1550.
Upon motion made by the Lord Great Chamberlain, it was
“ agreed, that from henceforth the Gentlemen at Arms ſhould
« be placed ſucceſſively in the PENSIONERS rooms at every
“ avoidance, and ſo give attendance on his Lordſhip as their
66 CAPTAIN *."
The arrangement of the BAND, Sir, in QUEEN MARY'S
Reign differed very little from what it had been in her bro-
ther's, except that I find, from the above MS. that the CAP-
TAIN, (William Parr, Marquis of Northampton) had a Table,
at which it is probable the LIEUTENANT, (Lord Bray) and
the STANDARD-BEARER (Sir William Stafford) dined f. In the
next
* The Queen acceded to the Throne, July 6, 1553.--The Marquis was como
mitted to the Tower July 26, and tried Auguſt 18. He died 1571.
| Regiſter Books of the Council-Office.
Theſe appear to have been the Officers belonging to the Band in the laſt men-
tioned manuſcript. The names of the Gentlemen are there likewiſe given, which
it is not neceſſary to repeat. Many occur that we bave ſeen in the year 1526 :
but as this Roll was inade immediately on the Queen's Acceſſion, it may rather
be conſidered as a liſt of K. Edward's Band than of her own. What changes might
F 2
take
44
The KING's Honourable-Band
next Reign we firall find Tables, not only for the Officers, but
for fuch of the Pensioners as were upon duty; for we have
already ſeen they now waited Quarterly in equal divifions of half
the Band at a time:
The number at this period was the ſame as it had thitherto
been-viz. Fifty; of whom the Three firſt were Knights *. The
Pay of the Officers does not appear from the preceding Roll;
but the Stipend of the PENSIONERS was 461. 135. 4d. each, except
that one of them (Thomas Aftley) had an allowance of too
Marks, (66). 135. 4d.) for which no fàtisfactory reaſon oc-
curs.
.
To proceed chronologically-The firſt View we have of the
Band in this Reign, when upon duty, is in an account of the
Queen's Proceſſion from the Tower to Weſtminſter, on the
day preceding the Coronation (a cuſtomary previous part of the
folemuity in thoſe times) left by an Italian anonymous writer,
cited by Mr, Gough in his Edition of Perlin's Deſcription of Eng-
land, in the preface" On each ſide of the proceflion," he tells
us, 6 went both the Gentlemen of the Axe and the Archers, to
" the number of 300 +."
But the moſt conſpicuous appearance the PENSIONERS måde
in this Reign, and indeed (if I may ſay it without offence) at
any other period, was in the fame year (1553), when they were
of real and eſſential uſe as a military body; for on the inſurrec-
take place afterwards in this reign, on religious motives, we do not know, though
it is ſcarcely probable that the Queen would retain any but ſuch as were firmly
in the Intereſt of the Church of Rome,
* See the laſt-ciied MS.
+ London, 1775, Quarto, p. xiii.This muſt paſs for a round number, given
us by a foreigner, on the ipſe dixit of his informer; unleſs we underftand the
Archers to have been a part of the Yeomen of the Guard, armed with Bows, as in
fact they were in the preceding Reigns,
tion
I
1
+
45
66 ſon;
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
tion of Sir Thomas Wyat and others, they were very active iri
defending the Palace of Whitehall, the particulars of which
are here given on the authority of one of the Band, who was
preſent, by name Edward Underhill *.
The part they took in this affair was as follows :-". The
" QUEEN, and her people at the Court, were in great con-
fternation, when Wyat was come to Southwark, with
6 his army, intending to enter London that way. The Gen-
66 TLEMEN PENSIONERS were commanded to watch in Ara
mour that night, for the preſervation of the Queen's Per-
and they came up into the Chamber of Preſence; with
" their Pole Axes in their hands. - Whereat the Ladies were
very fearful ; fome lamenting, crying and wringing their
hands, and faid Alas! there is fome great miſchief towards us!
6 we ſhall all be deftroyed this night! What a fight is this to
“ ſee the Queen's Chamber full of armed Men! the like was never
* ſeen or heard of." The Band in their uſual Habits de la Cour,
with their Battle Axes, was an object familiar to the Ladies ;
but the panic aroſe from feejing them in the ſame place in Armour
and on ſuch an occaſion. Soon afterwards the danger encreaſed,
and the Palace was beſet by a party of the rebels from Weſtmin-
ſter, and the gates cloſed. The PensioNERS were then in the
Hall, from whence they iſſued, and demanded that the gates
might be opened, ſaying, " it was too much ſhame that the
• gatës ſhould be thus ſhut for a few rebels--the Queen ſhall
“ ſee us fell down her enemies this day before her face.” The
Gates were then opened; but the Queen- earneftly requeſted
+
* Mr. Underhill was firſt a Man of Arms, at the Siege of Boulogne, Temp.
Hen VIH. and afterwards, for his merit, was made a Gentleman Penſioner by that
Ring, in which capacity he likewiſe ſerved King Edward VI, and Queen M.ry.
He was of a reſpectable family, being the ſon of Thomas Underhill, of Honinga
ton, in Warwickſhire, Efquire. [Strype's Memorials, Vol. II. p. 115.]
.66 that
1
46
The King's Honourable Band
" that they (the Penſioners) would not go out of her fight,"
intimating that “ her only truſt was in them for the defence of
“ her perſon that day.”
The Queen was in the gallery over the gate. They then
marched before the gallery window, “ when ſhe ſpake unto
" them, requiring them as they were Gentlemen in whom the
only truſted, that they would not go from that place." There
they marched up and down for the ſpace of an hour, when
news was brought that Wyat was taken. 6. Anon after," ſays
Underhill's narrative, - the Guard of PenSIONERS were all
“ brought into the Queen's Preſence, and every one kiſſed her
" hand; of whom they had great thanks and large promiſes,
- how good the would be unto them : but few or none of us
got anything, although ſhe was very liberal to many
66 others that were enemies to God's Word, as few of us
were
The next opportunity we have of obſerving the Band is on
an occaſion of greater tranquillity, in the year 1556, when, on
the 20th of January there was a Muſter before the Queen.
At Greenwich Park the QUEEN'S PENSIONERS muſtered in
bright Harneſs, and many barbed Horſes. Every PENSIONER
“ had three Men in Green Coats, guarded with White ; ſo they
66 rode about the Park, three in rank, upon Horſes, with Spears
« in their hands, the colours White and Green t. Afore rode
Trumpeters blowing; next a Man of Arms, bearing a Stan-
(6
* Strype's Memorials, Vol. III. p. 89, where the above narrative is given from
Fox's MSS. The Queen accounted this ſo great an eſcape, that Medals were
ſtruck in remembrance of it. [Evelyn's Nuiniſmata, p. 92.]
+ Theſe were favourite colours, and often uſed in Badges by the Houſe of
Tudor. [Archaeologia, Vol. VI. p. 183.] A Green and White uniform was worn
by the Lord High Admiral (Clinton) and his Captains, on the reception of the
Prince of Spain. [Strype's Memorials, Vol. III. p. 120.]
dard
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS,
47
--
9
66 dard of Red and Yellow ; in the Standard a White Hart *,
*** and on the one fide a Black Eagle with gilded Legs to Be-
“ tween Two and Three of the clock they came down and
6 muſtered before the Queen at the Park Gate :: before the
66. PENSIONERS rode many Gentlemen on Gennets I and light
“ Horſes, one whereof rode .upon the fineſt Muleſ). that ever
was ſeen, and ſo they rode to and fro before her Majeſty.
" At length the Queen thanked them all for their pains, and
ſo they departed; there were of the PENSIONERS Fifty, and
“ more, beſides their Men of Arms."!
In the year 1557, there was a ſimilar Muſter in Hyde Park ;
• The Queen's PENSIONERS muſtered in Hyde Park, and all
" their men in Green Cloth and White ."
In the early part of the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH, Sir,
we do not meet with any material change in the Band itſelf,
The eſtabliſhment, as to the number both of Oficers and Pen-
fioners, was the ſame as it had been left by Queen Mary; but
the pay of the latter ſeems to have been advanced to gol. each **
Another advantageous circumſtance likewiſe occurs at ſome
period in this reign, viz. Diet at a Royal Table, allowed to the
Gentlemen in Waiting, as well as to the Officers, though we have
no date to fix the time of its taking place, with any de-
* The Hart was one of the Queen's cognizances, for it appears upon a Stan-
dard borne at her funeral. [Strype's Mem. 111. 466.]
† A part of King Philip's armorial Bearings, as the ſon of the Emperor
Charles V.
Small Spanifh horſes. The riders were moſt probably part of the Suite of
King Philip.
|| The Spaniſh Mules were at that time in great requeſt, ſo that though we
have ſeen Cardinal Wolſey mounted on his Mule in the preceding Reign, it muſt
not, I fear, be attributed to his humility.
§ Strype's Memorials, Vol. III. p. 444.
** Peck's Deſiderata Curioſa, Vol. I. p. 59.
4
gree
489
The KING's Honourable Bund
I
1
gree of preciſion. The fact itſelf is only to be collected from
tome Articles for the government of the Band, which will be
produced preſently.
Notwithſtanding the latitude of Quarterly-waiting, which we
have ſeen was obtained as an indulgence to the Band, towards
the end of the reign of King Henry VIII. by Sir Anthony
Browne, we find the whole body in frequent attendance on her
Majeſty, both in the Court and in Progreffes :-Thus in the year
1598, Hentzner informs us he ſaw the QUEEN go to Chapel on
a Sunday (aud it does not appear to have been a high feſtival)
when ſhe was, “ guarded on each ſide by the GENTLEMEN
PENSIONERS, Fifty in number, with gilt Battle-Axės *.” As
the whole Band attended the Queen on certain occaſions, when
ſhe moved in domeſtic ſtate, it cannot be ſuppoſed but that it
eſcorted her in progreffes and other ſimilar movements of the
Court, as we find it did in a ſhort excurſion made by the
Queen (1561) into various parts of the City of London and its
·adjacencies t. Again, in the year 1564, when the Queen vi-
ſited the Univerſity of Cambridge, where ſhe was entertained
with literary and ſeholaſtic exerciſes, ſhe was eſcorted to a Play
by “ All the PensIONERS on both ſides, with torch-ftáves 1."
* The tranſlation of Hentzner's Travels is publiſhed ſeparately from the
Latin, (firſt printed together at Strawberiy-Hill), in Dodſley's Fugitive Pieces.
Vol. II. p. 275. Hentzner, on this occafion, in the original, diſtinguiſhes the
Penſioners by the Title of SATELLITES NOBILES, The MS. accounts of the
Queen's Houſhold agree with this in point of number. The Band, upon Sun-
days and other days, when the King goes to Chapel, has now a reſpectable part
of the Chapel appropriated to it.
+ Strype's Annals. Vol. I. p. 269. 2d. Edit.
Peck’s Defiderata Curioſa, Vol. II. p. 267.
The
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONER'S.
49
..
The moſt ſplendid appearance, however, that was made by
the Band on ſuch occaſions, ſeems to have been when the
Queen honoured Henry Lord Hunſdon, her kinſman, and
CAPTAIN of the Band, with a viſit at Hunſdon Houſe in Hert-
fordſhire, in the year 1580 *. A Painting of this proceſſion,
made by command of Lord Hunſdon himſelf, is preſerved, from
which a Priat was engraved by Vertue, and the plate, Sir, is
now the property of your Society. In this Painting the Gen-
TLEMEN of the Band are dreffed uniformly in Black Cloaks (of
the faſhion of the times) with Ruffs about their Necks, and gold
Chains over their ſhoulders; the other parts of their Dreſs are
of different colours, without any adherence to uniformity i.
The Queen, by this appearance of the BAND, drefled in an
outward garment of Black, does not ſeem to have had any re-
gård to the colours of Green and White, for which both her fa-
ther and her ſiſter had ſuch a predilection; yet perhaps we may
venture to date the Black facings of the preſent Uniform from
this reign, though I do not know that we ſhall have any op-
* The Queen and Henry Lord Hunfdon were maternally Couſins in the firſt
degrec, both being deſcended from the ſame Grandfather--thus:
Sir Thomas Bullen, afterwards
Earl of Wiltſhire,
Anne Bullen
K. Hen. VIII.
Mary=Wm. Carey
Elizabeth.
Henry, created
Lord Hunſdon.
+ As the Print does not ſhew the Colours of the Habits of the Band, I
have been favoured with theſe particulars, given from a View of the original
Painting, now in the Collection of the Right Hon. Lord Digby, 'at Sherbornio
Caſtle, in Dorfetſhire.
G
portunity
--
.
-
?
50
The KING'S Honourable Band
+
portunity of tracing it. Thus much, Sir, I have been able
to give you, as to the civil line of eſcorte in which the-
Queen uſed the Band; but we find the likewiſe ſometimes
ſaw them in the field, as her ſiſter: had done, in Muſ.
ters and martial exerciſes. In the year 1559 there was a Tilt
performed by the Band before her Majeſty, at Greenwicht, on
which occaſion Liſts were prepared in the Park, “ for the
" Queen's PensION ERS, who were to run with Spears it."
Again, Sir, Stowe tells us, that on the 28th of March; 1969,
" The Penſioners, well appointed in armour on horſeback, muſ-
“ tered before the Queen's Majeſty in Hyde Park, beſide Weft-
minſter 1.
Towards the cloſe of this reign it appears, from fome Ordi.
nances for the regulation of the BAND, that the PENSIONERS
were allowed a Quarterly-Waiting in diviſions, ſo that only one
third part of the Band (and that with ſpecial leave of the Queen
or the OFFICERS) be abſent at a time. From thefe Articles it is
evident that the GENTLEMEN (thoſe on duty at leaſt) hadi a
Table, which they never appear to have had before, in common
with the CAPTAIN, and others their ſuperior OFFICERS, and that
it extended both to Dinner and Supper. Thefe Orders I have iö-
ſerted at large, not only to eſtabliſh this point, but to ſhew the
diſcipline then practiſed in the Corps, and the Attendance, Re-
gularity, and Obedience expected from it. To theſe Articles is ad.
* The Queen might now chufe to differ as mueh as poſſible from Q. Mary,
even in minutæ, though ſhe temporized in them while her ſiſter was on the
throne : for on Q. Mary's acceſſion, 1553, when the Princeſs Elizabeth came to
the Court, her Retinue was uniformly drefled, " in Green guarded with White
“ Velvet, Satin, Taffata, or Cloth, according to their Qualities.” [Strype's Me-
morials, Vol. III. p. 14. from the Cott. Lib. Vitellius, F.]
Strype's Annals, Vol. I. p. 193. 2d Edit.
1 Chronicle.
7
ded
1
1
j
:
:
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONER 5.
5.1
ded the Oath to be taken by the LIEUTENANT and STANDARD-
BEARER in this reign. They are to be found, together with the
Orders made in the time of Sir Anthony Browne, fairly copied on
vellum, in the Harleian Library, [Nº 6142,] ſigned by Sir Henry
Graye, LIEUTENANT, and by another perfon (perhaps the Stan-
dard-bearer) whoſe name is written very illegibly, and with a
docquet, in theſe words, “ This Booke agreeth with the Booke
*6 made in the tyme of Kynge Henry th'eight figned then with
6s the King's owne hand, which remaineth with my Lord our
4 CAPTAIN.” By a note in another hand-writing the Captain is
explained to have been George the fecond Lord Hunfdon, which
circumſtance will lead us nearly to the date of this promulgation;
for he ſucceeded his father Henry', the firſt Lord Hunfdon, in the
command of the BAND, on his deceaſe, 1596, and died himſelf
in the poſt 1603, very ſoon after the acceſſion of King James.
With a tranſcript of theſe Articles, Sir, I ſhall cloſe this
reign.
The ARTICLES belonging to the faid GENTLEMEN Pen-
SIONERS
1. Firſt, Her Highnes pleaſure and commaundment is, that as many
of the ſaid Gentlemen Pencyoners as be or hereafter ſhall be
ordeyned and admitted, being not lycenced by her Majeſtie, the
Captaine, Lieutenant, or Standard-Bearer, be in the Queene's
Chamber of Preſence every holydaye biy nyne of the clocke in
the fore noone, and every working daye by tenne of the clocke,
and there to give attendaunce with their Axes, ready to knowe
what Mall be commaunded them by the Queene's Majeſtie,
the Captaine, Lieutenant, or Standard-bearer,
2. Item,
G 2
52
The King's Honourable Band
.
2. Item, The Said Gentlemen Pencyoners fayle not to bear their
Axes, and to give. attendaunce upon the Queene's Majeſtie
every ſuche daye or dayes as her Grace. Mall come abroade ta
Morninge Prayer, the Proceſſion, or Offeringen, and from Morn-
inge Prayer ;, to Evenſonge, and from Evenſonge ;, and to keepe
the place where ber. Highnes Mall pale to and fro as large as
the rome will ſerve.
3i Item, Her Grace's commaundment is, That in ber Majeſtie's
progreffe-tyme, or in any other removinge, or of her Highnes
doth ryde, the faide Gentlemen Pencyoners ſhall keepe ſuche
places as to them hal be appointed by their Captaine, Lieu,
tenant, or Standard-bearer.
43 Item, The Queen's comaundment is, That' afwell in ber mofle
honnorable Chamber, as in all other places where -ber Highnes
Shall paſſe by them, and att their Boarde, they doe uſe honejt
communicacon, with fobernes, that is to wit, without Oathes,.,
or any Rage in talke.
5. Item, That all the whole Band of the ſaid Gentlemen Pencyon-
ers, or as many of them as bě refaunt within the Courte for the -
tyme, doe accompany the Captaine, Lieutenante, or Standard .
bearer from their Dyninge or Suppinge Place to the Queepe's.
moſte Honourable Chambers.
6. Item, The Queen's further pleaſure is, that evry of the faide
Gentlemen Pencyoners ſhall; at all“tymes, be obedient and
confórmable to all "Juche ſerviceſ as Malli appertaine to the
Queene's Majeſtie, wherein fhé ought to be ſerved by the faid
Gentlemen, or by any of them, afwell"in her Grace's Cham-
bers as in all other places where her pleaſure ſhålbë to be ſerved!
by the commaundement of ſuch as fall, for the tyme being, have :
aucthoritye to commaund and appointe the faid Gentlemen Pen-
cyoners, as all other the Queene's ſervaunts. .
7. Item
1
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS:
53
.
7. Item, If the ſaid Gentlemen Pencyoners, or any of them, doe
faile the daies of their appearance in the place and howers before
mencyoned, then the Checke to be for the firſt defaulte the lolle
of Threc. daies Wages, and for the ſecond defaulte the lofe of
Sixe daies Wages, and for the third defaulte the lofe of Fif-
teene dayes Wages.
8. Item, If the faid Gentlemen, or any of tbem, faile their at-
tendaunce the daies of the Queene's Highues removinge, af-
well at the takynge of her: horſe, as at her lightinge, or be abſent
when her Majeſtie goeth to Chappell to Morning Prayre, Pro-
cellion, or Offeringe, and from Morninge Prayre; to Evenfange,
and from Evenſonge ; then the Checkto be like damages as is ex-
prelled in the Article above declared:
9. Item, The Queene's Majeſtie's pleaſure and commaundement is,
That every of the faide Gentlemen Pencyoners ſhall have his
Axe borne after him with a ſufficient man, the Axe being
cleane and bright, afwell in all places out of her Grace's Courte,
as within the fame Courte unto ſuche place or placis whereas
(where] every Gentleman Pencyoner ought of duty to beare it
himſelf, upon paine of the Queene's Highnes diſpleaſure.
10. Item, Where (whereas] the Queenes Majeſtie's pleafure is,
That every of the ſaid Gentlemen fall have three Montbes
libertie in the reare of not waitinge, so they take that libertie by
tbe appointment and knowledge of her Majeſty, the Captaine,
Lieutenante, or Standard-Bearer, or of any of them : alſo when
and as many of them as shall obtayne any ſuche lycenſe, they all
thereupon, ere they departe from the Courte, give acknowledgement
to the Clarke of the Checke, or his Deputie; of the tyme and
tymes of theire ſaid licenſe, with the returnes of the fame, or elſe
the ſaid licenfe to be voyde and (they] to be-checked for theire.
abſence..
11. Item,
&
:
:
54
T.be KING's Honourable Band
11. Item, Furthermore, her Majeſtie's pleaſure is, notwithſtand-
inge any lycence given to any of the faide Gentlemen Pency-
oners by her Grace, the Captainę, Lieutenante, or Standard-
bcarer, that the ſaid CAPTAIN, LIEUTENANT, or STAN-
DARD-BEARER' doe always foreſee that there ſhall not be abſent
at no tyme nor tymes above the third parte of the Band of the
Jaide Gentlemen Pencyoners.
12. Item, That evry of the faide Gentlemen Pencyoners be well
and fufficiently provided and furniſhed of his two Great Horſes
for himſelf and his fervaunte, according to his Oathe, with
Harneſs and all other habiliments to the fame appertayninge, to
be ready with the premiſes within two daiệs warninge given
unto them by theire Captaine, Lieutenante, or Standard-
bearer upon paine of forfeiture of tenne' daies Wages for the firft.
defaulte, and for the ſecond defaulte to forfeit a month's Wages,
and for the third offence to be clearly expulfed and put out of the
Rome of a Gentleman Penconer, and to loſe his-whole Quarter's
Wages.
13. Item, The Clarcke of the Check, or. ſuche his. Deputie
. as
Malbe thought ſufficient by the Captaine, Lieutenant or Stan-
dard-bearer, to admyt, ſhall be every daye in the Queene's
Grace's Chamber of Preſence by nyne of the Clocke before Noone,
there to receave the appearance of the ſaide Gentlemen Pén-
coners: and alſo the ſaid Clarcke, or his Deputy, to be at all
other placis where the faide Gentlemen mall be appoynted to
give theire attendaunce upon the Queene's Majeſtie.
14. Item, The Queene's pleaſure is, That every Gentlemen Pen-
cyoner Mall pay to the Clarcke of the Checke, at the takinge
of his Othe, Ten Shilling's, which the Clarke oughte. of dutye
to have; and that is, to witte, for the givinge of every of the
faide
1
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS,
5:5
faide Gentlemen bis Oathe Sixe Shillings and Eight Pence,
and ihe other three Shillings and Fower Pence is for the coppye
of the fame Oathe to them myniſtered, as aforeſaide, and of all
theſe Articles to be by the ſaid Clarke delivered to every of the
faide Gentlemen Pencyoners.
t
;
1
The O. ATH E of the Lieutenantè and Standard-Bearer #.
You ſhall ſweare to be trewe and faithfull ſubjecte and ſervante
unto our Sovereigne Lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God
Queene of England, Fraunce, and Ireland; Defender of the
Faithe, &c. in earth ſupreme heade of the Churches of England
and Ireland, according to the limitacon of the Afte' made for the
ftabliſhment of her Highnes fucceffion in the Crowne ymperiall of this
ber Realm of England and Ireland. And you Mall truely and dili-
gently give your attendaunce in the Rome of Lieutehaunte for Stan-
dard-bearer) of the Band of ber Majeftie's Gentlemen Pencioni-
ers. You ſhalbe retayned to nae pfone ne pfones of no degree or condi-
con by Oathe, Livery, Badge, Promiſe, or otherwiſe, but only to her.
Grace, withouté her eſpecial licence : And you ſhall not hereafter
hearë or knowé of any thingë that ſhalbe hurtefülor
. prejudiciall to
ber mofte Royall plone, or to her Heires in forme abovefaid, especially
in Treaſon, but you ſhall withſtand it to th’utter moſle of your power,
and the ſame, with all diligence to you poſſiblè; reveale and diſcloſe
töthe Queene's Highnes, or to your Captaine for the tyme being, or
in his abſence to ſome of her Majeſtie's Privy Councell, or for wante
of them to the Lieutenante of the ſaid Gentlemen Pencioners, or
to ſuche other as you fhall knowe will diſcover the fame to her
Grace. You ſhall be continewally furniſhed of double Horſe and
Men, and provide that your ſelf and your men may be alſoe
.
1
* Mutatis mutandis,..
well
/
56
The KING's Honourable Band
And this you
:
well furniſhed with Harnele according to your Rome, 'to ſerve
the Queene's Majeſtie, in tyme of neede, or otherwiſe for her
Grace's pleaſure. You ſhall truely, aud diligently to your power ob-
Jerve and keepe from this day forward all and every ſuch reaſonable
Articles, Rules, and Ordinaunces as ſhall be deviſed by the Queene's
Majeſtie, and ſet forthe, ſigned with her Grace's hand, for your
better Uſage and Order. And all ſuche cauſes as by waye of ſecre-
cge and councell ſhalbe Jbewed unto you by the Queene's Majeſtie,
the Captaine, or by his Lieutenante, you all keepe ſecrete with-
out diſcoveringe of the fame to any perſon or perſons till you ſhall be
thereunto comaunded. And alſoe you fall make your Muſter in ſuche
Harneſe and other Habilyments of Warre and uppon ſuch Horſes as
Malbe your owne proper goodes and noneother mans.
Thall well and truely obſerve and keepe, and ſerve the Queene's High-
nes in the faide Rome of her Majeſtie's Lieutenant (or Standard-
bearer.] Soe belpe you God, and by the holy Contents of this Booke.
The BAND, Sir, in point of ſplendor and reſpectability, ſeems
to have paſſed its meridian with the Demiſe of the Queen, as
very ſoon after that event it fell into dif-eſteem, owing to the
partialities of her ſucceſſor, which is evident from accounts of
unqueſtionable authority. The ſtate of it on the King's ac-
ceſſion cannot better appear than from the following Let-
ter from George Lord Hunſdon, CAPTAIN of the PENSIONERS,
addreſſed to K. James, immediately on the Queen's death,
and before her Obſequies were performed. We ſhall there find
a deſcription of the BAND as it ſtood at that period, conform-
ably with what we have before ſeen in the Queen's life-time;
from whence, we may further diſcern that its primary intention
was then adhered to in Diſcipline, Dignity, and in the Quality
of the GentLEMEN theinſelves, as well as that its original ap-
pearance in Accoutrements, and other military Appendages was
likewiſe preſerved.
6
A Let.
+
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
57
A Letter from George Lord Hunfdon to K.. JAMES, before he came
to England, upon the demiſe of QUEEN ELIZABETH*
“ Moſt mighty and moſt gracious Liege and Sovereign, among
many other Honours aud Duties which I do owe unto the
6 memory of my late deceaſed Sovereign this is not the leaſt,
" that it pleaſed her Majeſty upon the deceaſe of my Lord and
66 Father, and who alſo enjoyed the ſame honourable office,
" to grace me with the CAPTAINSHIP of her Band of Gen.
“ TLEMEN PENSIONERS, which Place and Dignity I have to this
preſent enjoyed: for the further continuance whereof I hum-
“ bly deſire to underſtand your MAJESTY's direction, and with-
66 all do think it a matter' agreable to my Duty and Allegiance
“ plainly and truly to inform your MAJESTY of the Inſtitution
« Nature, Quality, and Service of this Honourable BAND. They
66 are in all Fifty GENTLEMEN, beſides MYSELF, the LIEUTE-
NANT, STANDARD-BEARER, CLERK, of the CHEQUE, and
“ GENTLEMAN HARBINGER, choſen out of the beſt and antient.
" eſt Families of England, and ſome of them Sons to Earls,
" Barons, Knights, and Eſquires, Men thereunto eſpecially recom-
" mended for their worthyneſs and fufficiency, without any
“ Stain or Taint of diſhonour, or diſparagement in Blood. Her
“ Majeſty and other Princes her predeceſſors have found great
s uſe of their ſervice, as well in the guard and defence of their
- Royal perſons, as alſo in fundry, other important employ-
“ ments, as well civil as military, at home and abroad ; info-
“ much as it hath ſerved them always as a nurſery to breed up
« Deputies of Ireland, Ambaſadors into foreign parts, Counſellors
* This Letter is printed in ſome of Dr. Chamberlayne's Preſent-States, viz.
1737 and 1748; but I bave never been able to find the Original, or any other
Copy of it,
H
66 of
G
58
The King's Honourable Band
". of Statė, Captains of the Guard, Governors of Places, and
56 Commanders in the Wars, both by Latid and Sea. Withall
“ I.canyot.omit to ſignify to your MAJESTY their Alacrity and
" Affection wherewith, upon the deceaſe of her Highneſs, they
ós did embrace your MAJESTY's title and cauſe ; infomuch that,
“ upon my motion, they did moſt willingly offer themſelves
" to a ſtrong and ſettled combination, by a ſolemn Oath and
“ Vow, to defend and profecute your MAJESTY's lawful Right
". and Tițle by themſelves, their Friends, Allies, and Follow-
"ers (being no contemptible portion of this kingdom) to the
6. laſt drop of their Blood, againſt all impugners whatſoever ;
56 with which humble and dutifull deſires of theirs to ſerve
so your MAJESTY, I thought it my part and duty to acquaint
you,
and withall humbly deſire to know your MAJESTY's
s pleaſure and reſolution as concerning them. I have cauſed
- them to remain all about the Court with their Horfes, Ar-
and Men, to attend the Body of our late Royal Miſtreſs,
• and being generally all deſirous to wait upon your MAJESTY
at your entry into this kingdom, as thoſe that would be
56 loth to be fecond to any in all obſequious and ſerviceable Du-
ties to your MAJESTY, wherein I humbly defire your MA-
* JESTY's further direction,
And ever defire Almighty God, &c."
Śs
1110UT,
66
If it be neceſſary to add to this account, as here left us by
the then CAPTAIN, it will only tend to ſhew that the BAND
loft much of its Dignity early in the reign of King James.
This comparative view of it, comprized in ſo very ſhort a pe-
riod, cannot be better diſcovered than from the following teſti-
mony of John Earl of Clare (who had been in the Band when
Sir John Holles) delivered in theſe words, by his kinfınan Mr.
Gervaſe Holles I have heard the Earl of Clare fay that when
« he was PENSIONER to the Queen, he did not know a worſe
6 son mail
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
52.
:
“ man of the whole BAND than himſelf; and that all the
66 world knew he had then an inheritance of 4,000 1, a year.
" It was the conſtant cuſtom of that QUEEN," continues Mi:
Holles, “ to call out of all counties in the kingdom the Gentle
men of the greateſt hopes, and the beſt fortune and families,
“6 and with thoſe to fill the more honourable Rooms (Places]
" of her Hou lhold Servants, by which the honoured them,
obliged their Kindred and Allyance, and fortified Herſelf*.”.
From hence we may obſerve, Sir, that it was not the emó-
lument or any lucrative motive, which in that reign made gen-
tlemen follicitous to be admitted into the BAND; but the pure
dignity of the poſt itſelf, added to the laudable ambition of
being employed in public characters abroad, or of filling high
offices at home.
Mr. Holles then goes on with ſome aſperity, and is more ſes
vere upon King James and his adherents than I chuſe to re-
peat ; adding that when moſt of thoſe rooms were filled by
ſuch inconſiderable perſons as were preferred by favourites," or
as money introduced, the better fort of the Gentry forſook
the Court; and among the reſt Sir John Holles. The Queen's
ſtudious attachment to the external honour of her Court by the
choice of proper officers, as well in point of perſonal appearance;
as in birth and education, is given us by Francis Oſborne, Eſq;
who lived near the time of which he writes; though it muſt be
confeffed, that from one inſtance which he mentions, the Queen
ſeems to have carried her attention ſometimes to a frivolous
nicety t. “ This Princeſs,” ſays he, « in imitation of her Fa-
* Collins's Hiſtorical Colle&tions of the families of Cavendiſh; Holles, &c.
p. 84.
f Oſborne's Works, p. 374. This gentleman was then a Cadet of the family.
ſeated at Chickſands, in Bedfordſhire, the head of which is the préſent Sir George
Oſborne, Bart. &c.
H 2
" ther,
1
.
66
60
The King's Honourable Band
" ther, Henry VIII. did admit none about her for PENSION:
" ERS; Privy Chamber-Mer *, Squires of the Body, Carvers, Cup-
66 bearers, Sewers, &c. (which were not a few in number) bút
" perſons of Stature, Strength, and Birth, refufing to one her
66..conſent (demanded before any could be admitted to the
" meaneſt place in her houſe) becauſe he wanted a tooth: yet
" was never known to deſert any for age or other infirmity,
" after once inrolled, but either continued them, or, upon their
“ diſcharge, gave them .conſiderable and well-paid penſions.
$. As for her Guard, Ufers t, Porters, and all attending below
« ſtairs, they were of a no leſs extraordinary lize, than acti-
** vity for Shooting, throwing the Bar, the Weight, Wreſtling,
of &c.”
But to return, Sir, more immediately to the Penſioners.
Agreably to what is ſtated in Lord Hunſdon's Letter--that the
BAND was a Seminary from which were derived Stateſmen, and
Men of Eminence, in various departments, ſeveral may be
traced who aroſe to high Employments, and one indeed became
ultimately Lord Chancellor, This was Sir Chriſtopher Hatton,
who, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, from being one of the
Fifty GENTLEMEN. PENSIONERS was afterwards ſucceſſively;
a Gentleman of the Privy-Chamber-Captain of the Yeomen of
the Guard-ViceyChamberlain-a Knight of the Garter -and, at
faſt, High-CHANCELLOR I. Nothing could do more honour
to the BAND tl:an that one of it ſhould ariſe to the firſt civil Em-
ployment in the kingdom: in fo mixed' a group, however, we
* This was the term given to the Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber, and is to
hoe met with on various occafions.
+ By theſe are meant Yeomen-Uſhers, a branch of the Yeomen of the Guard.
: I See:Viſcount Harron, in Collias's Peerage, 1735, and Strype's. Annals, Vol.
Il. in Appendix, p. 158.
3
nuit
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONER
64
!
muſt expect, on a near inſpection, to find a variety of charac-
ters; and accordingly, on the other hand, I am now to men-
tion another of this Corps, who, in the Reign before ys, diſ-
graced his Poſt as much as Sir Chriſtopher had before reflected
Luſtre upon it. This Gentleman was of the ancient and
noble name of Persy, Coufin to Henry then Earl of Nore
thumberland, CAPTAIN of the BAND, and who, unfortunately
both for himſelf and his Kinſman, was deeply engaged in the
Popiſh Plot. He appears to have been the molt active and
atrocious abettor of that Conſpiracy, infomuch that a particular
Proclamation was iffued (1605) containing not only a promiſe
of Pardon to any of his accomplices who ſhould apprehend him;
but offering a Reward of One Thouſand Pounds at the leaſt, to any
that ſhould bring himn alive, as much inſight was expected from
his Confeffion towards the diſcovery of his Afociates, and the
unravelling that myſterious affair * Mr. Percy did not fuffer
the diſgrace of an execution, as many others did, being killed
with a few of his confederates, in a rencontre with the Poffe-
Comitatûs in the country whither they had fled: but the
Earl of Northumberland was by a fentence of the Star-Cham-
ber, fined Thirty Thouſand Pounds, and not only deprived
of all his Places, but condemned to perpetual impriſonment
for miſprifion of Treaſon in admitting his Kinſman, whom
he knew to be a Popiſh Recuſant, into the BAND, without ten-
dering to him the Oath. The Earl was accordingly committed
to the Tower, where he remained fifteen years ut. All this appears
from
* This Proclama'jon is extant (among others relative to this bufineſs) in a
printed Copy, publiſhed by Authority, 1609.
+ More particulars of Mr. Percy, relative to the Confpiracy, not to our inithe
diate purpole, may be ſeen in Rapin's Hift. of Engl. [Vol. Il. p. 171. Fol.] It
is, however, worth obſerving, that the fate of ſome of the Confpicators who fled
:
was
62
The King's Honourable Band
from Dugdale's Baronage-Wilſon's Life of King James--and
from the Trial of Henry Garnett, in the State-Trials; but I am
poffeſfed of a larger detail of what 'paſſed in the Star-Chamber
on that occaſion, from a MS, in the Cottonian Library. (Vef
paſian, XIV. fol. 4.51.] which I give in a Note. It is written
in the form of a Letter, though without Name, Date, or Ad!
dreſs, and ſeems to have been drawn up, either by a Practiſer it
that Court, or by another perfon preſent at the Trial, and has the
appearance of being a rough copy of what was ſent to fome
gentleman of conſequence, then at a diſtance from London *.
Thus
was fingularly appoſite to their intended crime; for two or three of them, who
had fortified themſelves in a houſe in which they were beſieged, loſt their lives
by the exploſion of a barrel of their own Gun-powder. (Harrington's Nuja An-
riquæ, Vol. II. p: 239:]
* SIR,
The Proceſſe againſt my Lord of Northumberland, on Fryday was ſevenight
(as all other matters of that nature) may be divided into two general Heads,
1. The Crimes objected againſt him, and,
2. The Puniſhment impoſed.
The Crimes, which,' under the name of Contemptes, were. layed to his
charge, I mean thoſe whereon, out of his own verbal confeffion, his ſentence was
grounded, were (beſides many other of leſs importance) prinoipally Three.
1. The firſt was his employing of Percy' a year, and a half before the Queen's
death into Scotland, to procure of his Majeſty a mitigation for Catholiques, and
ſome tolération of their religion : and that the King's favour in this behalfe
might bę wholly at the diſpoſal of my Lord of Northumberland,' that his Lord-
ſhip might hold the Catholiques in a kind of dependency and ſuſpenſe, till his
Majeſty might have peaceable entry and quiet poffeffion. By which means, faid
Mr. Atturney, he went about to derogate from the King's authority, by ſtealing
away the heartes of his ſubjectes, and making himſelf head of the moſt factious
and traiterous faction in the kingdon.
The ſecond was his making of Percy a PENSIONER.
1. knowing him to be a jeſuitical and turbulent Papiſt.
2. without his Majeſty's privity,
3.
Without
of GentleMEN PENSIONERS:
63
.
Thus much, Sir, I have taken the liberty of adding, with
reſpect to individuals of very different complexions, and will
now proceed with the aggregate body.
The principal circumſtance remaining to be obſerved in this
Reign is, that the Table which was provided for the Band in
the eſtabliſhment of Queen Elizabeth, ſeems to have been com,
muted for an equivalent in Board-wages: for I have before me
an Order on the Exchequer, figned by the King, in the year
1616, for an impreft of Six Thouſand Pounds for Wages and
Board-wages then due to the Officers and the Band in general*
This exchange does not ſeem to have taken place till within a
very ſhort time before the date of the Order, as it there carries,
the appearance of a new Regulation), and is called an Encreaſe
of Wages and Allowances to the whole Band, and further di-
3. Without giving him the Oth.
4.- And that under a kind of fraud and treachery; for being demanded whether
be had fworn Periy, or no?. he ſaid he had ',
The Third was his writing of Letters to his tenants in the North, without
the Kinge's Licence, during the time of his reſtraint; not for the apprehenſion
of Percy; but that they ſhould have a care of his Rents, that they might not
come to Percy's fingers, giving Percy thereby a watchword to eſcape, and ſo pre-
ferring the ſafety of a little Money before the taking of a capital Traytor; and
conſequently before the ſafety of the King and the whole kingdoin,
The Cenſure or Puniſhment was Thirty Thouſand Founds fine, the lofſe of all
his offices and dignities growing to hiin by the King's favour, and perpetual pri-
fonment
* The Original is in his Majeſty's State-paper Office.
I This was covinous—for I have been informed from the inolt refpectable authority, that the,
Earl permitted Thomas Percy, luis Lordlip's next brother, to take the Oatlı, inſtead of Thomas,
Percy the traitor.
2 We are told by Sir Bulſtrode Whitlocke, [Memorials, p. 298. ] that the Earl felt the feverity
of his ſentence with ſo much indignation, triat.be was afterwards with difficulty prevailed upon to
accept his releaſe, when procured at the fuit of his-ſon-in-law, the Lord Viſcount. Doncaſter; ſaying,
nothing of ſtain upon his Honour could be made out, as to the buſineſs of the Gun-powder
«" Treaſon." Thc Decree of the Court of Star-Chamber inay be ſeen at large in the. Harleian
MSS. K. 389,
rects,
that ***
--
64
The King's Honourable Band
rects, that for the future thoſe ſtipulated Payments ſhould be
made quarterly.
It may be obſerved, however, that, though by this Order the
Wages and Allowances were enlarged in general, and in com-
penfation of the loſs of Diet at the King's charge, yet it is not
ſpecified in what proportions the ſum allowed ſhall be divided;
ſo that we cannot collect with accuracy the advance that was
then made towards the preſent individual emoluments of the
Officers and Band reſpectively *. The Books relative to the
Band, which I have ſeen, do not reach this period by a very
great number of years ; neither can any thing but ſcattered
accounts be expected to have ſurvived the turbulent parts of the
following Reign, and the Inter-regnum which enſued. That
I may advance nothing without Authority, I have added King
James's Warrant for the above Payment in a Note t.
The
* Dr. Chamberlayne, in his Preſent State of the year 1748, ſays, the Gentle-
men Penſioners formerly had a Table, which was taken away by King James, and
that in lieu thereof they had gol, each allowed for Board Wages : but we are not
there told in what degrees the Pay of the OFFICERS was advanced.
+ JAMES R.
JAMES, by the Grace of God, &c. To the Treaſurer and Under-Trea-
ſurer of our Exchequer, greeting. Whereas Wee are pleaſed, out of our gracious
and princely difpofition to make an encreaſe of the wages, and allowances of the
Captain, Lieutenant, Standard-bearer, Clark of the Cheque, Geutlemen Pero
coners, Gentlemen at Armes, and Harbinger, for the better enabling them to
attend upon us, in our fervice, 'the ſame not to exceed in any one year the ſum of
Six Thouſand Pounds ; This Thalbe therefore to will and commaund you of ſuch
our Treaſure as from tyme to tyme ſhall be and remayne in the receipte of our
ſaid Exchequer, to cauſe payment to be made, from tyine to tyme, unto Sir
Henry Myn, Knt. now Paymaſter of the ſaid Band, and to the Paymaſter here.
after for the tyme being, of all ſuche fone and ſommes of money as ſhall ap-
pearė to be due unto them the ſaid Captaine, Lieutenant, and the reſt of the Of..
ficers and Band reſpectively, upon Quarterly Rolles, ſubſcribed by the faid Cap-
taine,
.
$
of Gentlemen PENSIONÉRS.
65
In this Reign, Sir, I firſt diſcern a Pay-Mafter peculiarly appro-
priated to the BẠND. Thitherto they had been paid at ſome of
the Publick Offices, in common with the reſt of the Royal Houſ-
hold. It was moſt probably on occaſion of the compoſition juſt
mentioned, wherein Wages and Board-wages were thus conſo-
lidated, that a particular Pay-Maſter was appointed. The very
words of King James's Warrant are of themſelves ſufficient to
aſcertain this matter, which are, that payment be made from
time to time, 6 unto Sir Henry Mynn, Knt. now Pay-Maſter
66 of the ſaid BAND, and to the Pay-Mafter hereafter for the
6 time being, &c."
In all the former eſtabliſhments which I have ſeen, no Pay-
Majter appears: but in that of the year 16.15 * Sir Henry Mynn
is ſpecified to have had the office, in which he is likewiſe
found in the years 1616 and 1617*. The ſalary annexed to
this appointment, in the year 1615, appears to have been 100
marks-but in the two following years I find it to have been
only gol. but it is then ſaid to have carried with it other allow-
taine, or in his abſence, by the Lieutenant, or in the abſence of them by the
hand of the Standard-hearer and Clark of the Checque for the tyme being, to
whome any Wages or Board Wages ſhalbe due, and how muche everie of them
(his Cheque defalked to our Ure) ought to receive of the fame, the firſt payment
thereof to begin and take place from the tyme of their laſt Payment, and ſo to
continue Quarterly during our Pleaſure. To be taken, had, and received, to the
ſaid Paymaſter, reſpectively, without any account, impreft or other charge to be
ſet upon him or them for the fame, or for anie parte thereof. And theis our Let-
ters, &c. Given, &c.
By Order of Mr. Secretary Lake.
1616,
Expedit apud Bletſoe, Vicefimo Quarto die Julii, Anno Regis Jacobi
Decimo Quarto.
· P. WINDEBANK,
* In the Coll. of Arms.
if MS. in the Library of the Earl of Shelburne,
I
ances,
66
The KING's Honourable Band
-
ances, which I interpret to mean a ſmall Poundage on the money
which paſſed through the hands of the Pay-Maſter : thus much
however is clear, that the Poft was not beneath the accep-
tance of perſons of rank, for I find afterwards in the following
reign (anno 1635) on the authority of a MS, which I have ſeen,
that it was then enjoyed likewife by a Knight, viz. Sir John
Hales *
As the Poſt carries with it no ſalary whatever at preſent,
there is reaſon to ſuppoſe that the per-centage might afterwards
be encreaſed and deemed a ſufficient emolument for the trouble
accompanying the Payment, and that the original
falary was ap-
plied to enlarge the Pay of fome Officer of the BAND, perhaps
the Clerk of the Cheque, whoſe ſtipend, then only 100 maſks (or
66l. 135. 4d.) at the moſt, was ſoon after the Reſtoration ad.
vanced to 1201. per annum.
The Reign of King Charles I. Sir, gives us but now and then
a momentary view of the BAND. The number was 50, accor-
ding to the account given by Monf. la Serré, who ſaw them on
duty in the year 1637, when Mary de Medicis, the Queen Mo-
ther of France, came into England to viſit her daughter, our
Queen Henrietta. He compares them with the Gens d'Armes
of France, and adds, that each PensIONER had three Houſes
well capariſoned wito The CAPTAIN of the BAND was then
William Cecil [the ſecond] Earl of Salifoury, who, together
* The MS. alluded to was the property of the late George Scott, Efq; of
Woolſton-Hall, in Efſex, whoſe Library was ſold by Auction, 1781.
t“ Une Compagnie de cinquante Gentilshommes de la Bande des Penſionaires
" qui ſont comme Gens d'Armes, entretenent chacun trois chevaux ſelon l'Ordre
« de leur Eftabliſſement dont ils tirent du Roy Penſion annuelle, marchoit à la
“ fuite de ſon Lieutenant; mais tous enſemble bien inontez, & en fort bel equi-
page.” [Hiſtoire d' l'Entrée de la Reyne Mere. A Londres, 1639. Reprinted,
by Mr. Gough, 1775.]
with
1
.
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
67
with the Earl of Morton, CAPTAIN of the YEOMEN, ſupported
Monf. de la Maſure, the Lieutenant of the French Queen's Garde
du Corps*
On the triumphal entry of the King into the City of Lon-
don, after his return from Scotland, 1641, his MAJESTY was
eſcorted, among other the Royal attendants, by “ The Earl of
56. Saliſbury, CAPTAIN of the PENSIONERS, followed by the
“ GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, with their Pole-Axes; all mount-
1 ed, with Piſtols at their Saddles, And afterwards at dinner,
s in the Weſt part of the Hall (Guild-Hall) below the Gate on
" the South ſide, was a long Table placed for his Majeſty's PEN-
56 SIONERS +.”
The
.
im Idem. p. 35.
of Lord Somers's Tracts, Vol. IV. pp. 159, 161. Anciently, when Revels
were kept during Chriftmas, at the Court, the ſame feſtivities were obſerved in
the principal Law Societies. On thefe occaſions there was elected from the Gen-
Hemen of the Society one who was ſtyled the Chriftiras-Prince, who had his
Great Officers and Guards about him, and among the reſt his PENSIONERS. It may
not be amiſs to tranſcribe the account given of the Eſtabliſhment and Retinue of
the Chriſtmas-Prince, A. D. 1635, as it has a reference to the ſubject. before us,
from a letter written at that time by the Rev. George Garrard to the Earl of
Strafforde, then Lord Deputy of Ireland." The Middle-Temple-Houſe," fays
he,“ have ſet up a Prince who carries himſelf in great ftate. . . . . He hath all
« his Great Officers attending him,-Lord Keeper, Lord Treaſurer, Eight White
“ Staves at the leaſt, CAPTAIN of his PENSIONERS, Captain of his Guard, and two
“ Chaplains, who on Sunday lalt preached before him, ., , My Lord Chamber-
“ lain lent him two fair Cloths of Eſtate, one hung up in the Hall, under which
“ he dined, the other in his Privy-Chamber : he is ferved on the knee, and all
" that come to ſee him kiſs his hand on their knee. My Lord of Salisbury hath lent
56 him Pole- Axes for his PENSIONERS. He ſent to my Lord of Holland, his Juftice
“ in Eyre, for Veniſon, which he willingly ſends him ; to the Lord Mayor and
• Sheriffs of London for Wine, all obey. Twelfth-Day was a great day: going
“ to the Chapel many Petitions were delivered to him, which he gave to his Ma-
I a
46 fters
.
68
The King's Honourable Band
7
The next time we have opportunity of obſerving the Band
is upon a very different occaſion : viz. when the King found
it neceſſary to take refuge at Oxford, in the year 1642.
A feditious Preacher had thrown out ſome words from the
Pulpit, which ſo alarmed the King and his Council, that it
was not thought ſafe to truſt his Majeſty's Perſon any where
without an extraordinary guard. It was therefore commanded
by his Majeſty, with advice of the Council, among other ſecu-
rities, “ That as often as his Majeſty did ride abroad, the Cape
“ tain of his Majeſty's Guard [i. e. of the Yeomen] and the
“ LIEUTENANT of his PENSIONERS, with Four of the Gentle-
“ MEN PENSIONERS, ſhould ride continually near his Majeſty's
« perſon, and ſuffer none of mean condition, or unknown to
"6 them, to come near his Majeſty *.” The ſuſpicions ran that
aſſaſſination was intended, as that which dropped from the
Preacher was ſimilar to what was recollected to have been in-
ſinuated to the public by the ſame channel, previous to the
murder of the Duke of Buckingham by Felton aft. The Pen-
fioners are again mentioned as part of the eſcorte of the Queen,
when ſhe made her entry into Oxford in the ſame year I. After
that period, as the King's difficulties daily encreaſed, we can-
not expect to hear more of this his Body-Guard ; for ſoon af-
terwards his State gradually diminiſhed, and his perſon fell
66 in
“ fters of the Requeſts. He hath a Favourite, whoin, with ſoine others, Gen-
« tlemen of great Quality, he knighted, at his return from Church, and dined
great State. It coſts this Prince 2,000 l. out of his own Purſe.” (Vid. Straf-
ford's Letters, Vol. I. p. 507, Dublin Edition.] For a further and more gene-
ral account of theſe Revels I refer to Dugdale's Orig. Jurid. and to Gerard
Legh's Accedence of Armory.
* Mercurius Aulicus, P: 51.
+ Idcin, p. 50.
Idem, p. 373
into
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
69
into the keeping of thoſe who guarded it for a very different
purpoſe.
I ſhall now, Sir, once more, and for the laſt time, trouble
you with Ordinances for the government of the Band. The
copy which I have before me, is indeed without date; but
that is aſcertainable to have been of the year 1633, from a
letter of the Duke of Montagu, who was CAPTAIN of the B'AND
1734, which will be given at length in its proper place.--
Though theſe Orders, with a very little qualification, border on
thoſe of Queen Elizabeth, yet I apprehend they are in effect the
laft; for thoſe of King Charles II. and King James II, are but
mere tranſcripts of them.
If they ſeem too rigid for our times, yet they will be found
characteriſtic, of the Reign of King Charles I. and will confirm
an obſervation of Lord Clarendon, who tells us, that the King
64 kept State to the full, which made his Court very orderly;
no man preſuming to be ſeen in a place where he had no
pretence to be * "
ORDERS of King: CHARLES I. A. D. 1633
The Band of our Penſioners having the Honour to be our neareſt
Guard, and to have their daily acceſs into our Preſence Chamber,
We think fit and ordain, that from henceforth they be freely chofen
by. our Knowledge, out of our beſt Families, and ſuch as have
beſt Education in ſeveral counties of our kingdoms, that all our
loving ſubječts of beſt Rank and Worth may find themſelves intereſted
in the Truſt and Honour of our Service.
And as many of our Gentlemen Penſioners as are, or ſhall be
hereafter admitted, and not licenſed to be abſent by Us or their
* Hift. of the Rebellion, Vol. III. Part 1. Oxford Edit. Oct. 1717.
Captain,
-
--
70
The KING's Honourable Band
Captain, or in bis abſence by the Lieutenant or Standard-bearer of
the Band, mall be in our Chamber of Preſence every Feſtival-Day,
Holy-day, or Sermon-day, by Nine of the clock in the forenoon,
and every Working-day by Ten of the clock, and all there give
attendance with their Axes, ready to know what ſhall be com:
manded themby Us, or their faid Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard-
bearer.
They Mall not fail to bear their Axes, and to give attendance on
Us every ſuch day as we ſhall come abroad to Morning-Prayer, and
from the ſame, and to and from Evening-Prayer, in the Great Clo-
fet, and pall keep the place where We paſſe. to and fro, as the large-
neſs of the roome mall ſerve.
In our Pragrele, or other Remove when we ride, they mall keep
ſuch places as to them fall be appointed by Us, or by the aforeſaid
Officers.
They fall at all times be obedient, and performe all fuch fervices
as ſhall appertaine unto Us, and wherein We ought to be ſerved by
them, as well in Chamber's as in all other places qubere our pleafure
Mall be to be ſerved, by the commandment of ſuch as ſhall for the time
have authority to command and appoint the faid Gentlemen Pen-
fioners, and all other our ſervants.
If any of them fail their duties of appearance at their days in the
Place and Hours before-mentioned, they ſhall be checkt for the firſt
fault with the belle of Three days Wages, for the fecond with the
late of Six, and the third of Fifteen.
In the like manner they shall be checkt if they fail their attendance
in the day af aur Remove, as well at the taking of our Horſe, as
at our lighting, or when we go to or from the Chappel, at Even-
ing ar Morning-Prayers.
The faid Gentlemen Penſioners Hall, every of them have bis
Axe borne after him by a ſufficient Man, Said Axe being cleane and
bright, as well in all places out of Court as within, unto ſuch place
where
of ĠENTLEMEN' PENSIONERS.
7
+
where every ſuch Gentleman Penſioner ought to bear it himſelf,
upon pain of our diſpleaſure.
Whereas, by Inſtitution and antient Order every Gentleman
Penſioner was allowed but Three Months Liberty in the Year of
not waiting, and that by the appointment of the King, their Cap-
tain, Lieutenant, or Standard-bearer; and ſo as ere they departed
the Court they ſhould give notice to the Clerk of the Cheque, or bis
Deputy, of the time of their Licence, with return of the fame, or elle
the ſaid Licence to be void, and they to be checkt for their abſence
-which Order afterward our Predeceffor [Henry VIII.), at the
humble fute of Sir Anthony Browne, their Captain, enlarged by
Quarter-Waiting by courſe, yet ſo as the one half of the Band was
required continually to attend, withoute any excuſe of Ackneſs or
otherwife, but that he or they that did fortune to be fick or have
any other lett within his Quarter fhould, for the time of abſence,
find one, his Companion, that was out of his Quarter, to wait and
furniſh his place, or elſe to be in danger of the Checque ; and the
other half of them for the mean time of their Half-year, ſo by their
Quarters to be taken at liberty..
This Order thus enlarged to a Quarterly-attendance, with the
nditions thereof, we ratifie and confirm :-Notwithſtanding any
Licence given to any of the ſaid Gentlemen Penſioners by Us;
the Captain, Lieutenånt, or Standard-bearer ſhall always foreſee
that there be not abſent at any time above Half the BAND.
The ſaid Gentlemen Penſioners were alſo required by their In-
ftitution to be well and ſufficiently furniſhed and provided every
one with his Two Great Horſes for himſelf and his ſervant,
according to his Oath, with his Arms and all other Habiliments
to the ſame appertaining, to be ready therewith within two
days warning given to them by their Captain, Lieutenant, or
Standard-bearer upon payne of forfeiture of Ten Days Wages
7
for
1
72
The KING's Honourable Band
for their firſt default, and for the ſecond default to forfeita
Month's Wages, and for the third to be clearly expelled and put
out of the roome of a Gentleman Penſioner, and to looſe his whole
Quarter's Wages. Which proportion of Two Great Horſes was
then, in regard of the liberty granted of Quarter-Wayting, in-
creaſed to the finding of Three Great Horſes furniſhed accord-
ingly ;-and this number, the rather for the late encreaſe of Pay*,
We require to be furniſhed by every Gentleman Penſioner for our
ſervice in their places upon the penalty above-named.
The whole Band of Gentlemen Penſioners ſhall give their at-
tendance at the Four principal Feaſts of the Year, viz. Chriſtmas,
Eaſter, Whitſontide, and Allhallontide, and at St. George's Feaſt,
and at our Coronation-day, under the Cheque as they do now.
And notwithſtanding the great liberty of their Quarter-waiting,
they are required neverthelele to be at all times in ſuch readineſe
that when warning ſhall be given them from their Officers, they and
every of them hall, according to the fame, repair to the Court, and
give ſuch attendance for the time as Aball be appointed unto them,
uſing for that ſeaſon, be it in their Quarter 'or otherwiſe, no leſs di-
ligence than in their Quarter they ought to doe,
The Clark of Cheque, or ſuch bis Deputy as ſhall be thought fit
and ſufficient by the Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard-bearer to
admit
, ſhall be every day in the Chamber of Preſence at nine o'clocke
in the forenoon, there to receive the appearance of the ſaid .
Gentlemen Penſioners. And alſo the Clark or his Deputy ſhall
be at all other places where the ſaid Gentlemen Penſioners ſhall
be appointed to give their attendance for our ſervice,
* Meaning, I conceive, the Compoſition for the Table, which, as
we have
ſeen, took place in the preceding Reign; or ſome other advancement in addition
to that made about the ſame time by King James. See the King's Order for the
Payment of the Band, A. D. 1616, p. 64, antea,
i
The
of G£NTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
73
.
The accuſtomed Oath ſhall be taken by every Gentleman Penſion-
er, at his admiſion.
They ſhall be muſtered every Quarter, or Montbly, by their Cap-
tain, Lieutenant, or Standard-Bearer.
During the Protezlorate, Sir, we cannot fuppoſe that Crom-
well would in any degree retain the identical Guard which had
thitherto been the Appendage to the Perſon of A KING, deem-
ing them of courſe inimical to his intereſts; though the Uſurper
· himſelf adopted a ſimilar Eſtabliſhment. Whether the Royal
Band of PENSIONERS was diſmiſſed in form, or turned out of
doors (like the Parliament) nothing is left to aſcertain. There
is, as one would imagine, a chaſm in the Books of the Council.
Office, from the death of King Charles the First to the Reſto-
ration, and Thurloe's State Papers do not go to ſuch minutiæ.
Oliver was far from -being regardleſs of his perſonal ſafety;
on the contrary, he was extremely jealous of every body, not
known to him, and at all tịmes kept a vigilant eye to his ſecu-
rity.' Roger Coke tells us, " he never ſtirred abroad without
ſtrong Guards, wearing armour under his cloaths, and offen-
166 five, Arms too, never came back the common Road, or the
56 ſame way he went, and always palling with great ſpeed; had
many Locks and Keys for the Doors of his Houſes; ſeldom
ſlept above Three nights in oive chamber, nor in any which
66 had not two or three Back-doors, and Guards.at all of them *
It is evidenț, from the circumſtance of Oliver's fall from the
coach-box, in Hyde-Park, that he then had Piſtols about him,
notwithftanding his Guards were at hand, for one of the Piftols,
by the force of the fall, went off in his pocket f.
The
* Coke's Detection, fub. anno, 1656.
of Thurloe's State-Papers. The ſtory of Oliver driving his Coach with fix un-
suly horſes, may ſeer, when ſimply told, to have been merely a frolick; but. Die
K
Bates,
7:47
The King's Honourable Bandi
The Protector, in the height of his Popularity, ſeems to have hadhi
when collectively taken, a reſpectable Body-guard of 140 Horſe.
l'orty of theſe were originally his Garde dų Corps, the reſt feem.
ing to have bcen reſerved for occaſions of State ; or defence ifi
required. This eſcorte of 40 was afterwards reduced to 20, to
be in conſtant attendance, at which time,, by the diminution-
of his guard, one is led to ſuppoſe that Cromwell felt himſelf
ſecure in the hearts of the Army and People, in which he was
very foon afterwards happily miſtaken. Theſe 20. Gentlemen,
we may affimilate to the Penfoners (for ſuch indeed they are
ſtyled) and the reſt of the troop ſeem not to have been of infe-
rior condition. The letter which I have given in 2. note, conq.
tains my authority for this account *
As
Bates, in his Elenchy. - [p. 299. Edit.1676.) gives a medical reaſon for it. The
Protector, he ſays, was much troubled with the Stone and Gravel, and that he
uſed to drink plentifully-of ſmall diurețiç liquors, and afterwards
. by violent:
exerciſe on horſeback, or by the jolting of a Carriage, -provoked a diſcharge of
what was offenſive in his bladder or kidneys. He would ride hard, we are toldg.
even in his Promenades à Chöral, and on the above occafion ſeems to have choſen
the Coach-bqx, as he there would feel more of the motion of the Carciage than he
did withịn ito.
“ Nieuport, the Dutch Ambaſſadors to the States General..
". High and Migḥty. Lords,
« My Lords, a few days ſince the Life-guard of Horſe of the Lord Protector,
" which formerly confifted of Forty perſons moft*young Gentlemen of this nation,
was reformped after ſuch a manner, that Twenty of them are to be employed as,
« Ordinary Penſioner Sai-who are to wait continually upon the Perſon of his High-
thineſs, &c.
• Dated Weſtminſter;
«.Mar. 10, 16:56, N.S*"
Thurloe's State Papers, Vol...IV. P: 56%.
S
N. B. The
>
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS:
1
are
As to the appearance of theſe guards, we find then thus de
fcribed in an intercepted letter of the 4th of April, 1656, very
ſoon after the above-mentioned Reform-- Munday laſt,” ſays
the writer, “ the Life-guards muſter'd in Tuttle-fields; they
the beſt Horſe and propereſt Fellowes I have ſeene *.”
Towards the cloſe of his life, however, the Protector ſeems
to have fallen off in his State, and having funk much in
the good opinion of the Army, was forced to take up with a
very mean and unprincely Eſcorte. Thus, if we may credit
Roger Coke (who ſeems to ſpare neither Kings nor Demi-
Kings) he tells us, " that Cromwell having ſo little-dependa
" enċe on his army, ſet up another of Voluntiers, to have Eight
* Pounds a year a-piece, to be ready to ſerve him. Theſe were
ibi a Company of fëllows wha, as their pay was little, ſo. were
* their horſes jades, and lean; and a Troop of the Army-Horfe
66 would beat ten of them, yet they ſerved Cromwell ſo far as
so to ſeize malignants whenever he fent-them, and were fpies
over all ſuſpected perſons, and to inform him of their de
o* meanout #:** The confidence of the Army had been Crom.
well's Theet aiiclior, and Terror his rule of Government, both
at home and abroad, when the former was loſt, his power be-
gan to diffolvë apace, and we have an opportunity of obferving
from the laſt account of his Body Guard, that the Protector
himſelf was then in want of protection, being as much deſerted
by his former adherents from principles of abhorrence, as the
N. B. The other Twenty, the letter adds, were joined to the 100 elected
Horſe, out of all the Regiments, ſo that the Life-guard of Horſe itſelf (exclu-
five of the above mentioned Penſioners] confifted of 120 men, beſides the cap-
tain 'and: Four Lieutenants.
* Thurloe's State Papers, Vol. IV. 675.
1 Coke's Detection. ſub ann. 1658.
KING
K2
1
.
-
:1
.
!
1
76
The King's Honourable Band
i
KING had been by his friends from fears of impending anarchy
and defolation.
At the Reſtoration, Şir, upon the KING'S public Entry, ſuch
of his late Majeſty's PENSIONERs as were living voluntarily at-
tended (though not then re-eſtabliſhed) deeming themſelves, 1
preſume, rather ſuſpended than diſbanded *. They were regularly
embodied very ſoon afterwards, and reſumed their functions ;
for in July following, when the King dined at Guild-hall; the
Band went on foot on each fide of his Majėſty's Coach under
the command of their CAPTAIN (Henry Wentworth, Earl of
Cleveland) with Piſtols in their hands t. In the Proceſſions, from
the Tower, to Weſtminſter on the day before the Coronation,
and on the Coronation-day (:661), they are found in their uſual
ſituations I.
Having no official books, nor any printed"authorities to guide
us før fome years after the Reſtoration, little tranſpires further
than that the BAND, in about thirteen years afterwards, was
reduced from Fifty to Forty, at which number it has ever ſincet
continued; this, Dr. Chamberlayne tells us, took place. be...
tween the years 1672 and 1.674. II. There had been, indeed,
a great Retrenchment early in the year 1668, which, though
attended with changes in ſeveral parts of the Royal Eſta-
bliſhment, did not affect either the BÀND. or the OFFICERS; for
they are comprehended in one general clauſe of exception, the
intention of the Reform being, as it was declared, only to:
>
* Heath's account of the Triumphs'at-the-Reſtoration. London, 1662, 12mo.
* Heath. . This manner of their being armied is rather ſingular ; but it agrees
with that of the year 1641, and comes on the authority of an eye-witneſsa..
Ogleby's Coronation of K. Ch. II.
|| Preſent States.
Cuts
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONÉRS.
73
cut off all ſupernumerary Places, “ other than what were in the
66 time of his late MAJESTY, of blefied Memory*.”. On the
other hand we learır. from Dr. Chamberlayne, that the Pay of
the Officers was conſiderably encreaſed, which was effected by.
the above Reduction in point of number, without enlarging the
General Expence t. If the pay of the Gentlemen of the Band diů
not ariſe to lool. per annum, by Wages and Board-wages taken
together, in the reign of K. James I.- (as Dr. Chamberlayne
imagines to have been the caſe) there is room to ſurmiſe that
it might receive ſome augmentation on this occafion.
It is but juſtice to obſerve here the Reſpectability of the BAND,
when it ſeems to have loſt the tarniſh, which we have been
told it received at the Union of the two Crowns ;. for in a Liſk
of the Band, 1672 (excluſive of the Officers) I find one Baronet
and nine. Knights I
In the ſhort reign of K. James II: Sir, little is found con-
cerning the Band in general
except that if Dr. Chamberlayne's ac-
count be the Truth (and there is no reaſon to controvert it) the
falaries both of the Officers and the Gentlemen, aroſe to their
preſent Standard: under King James §. One cireumſtance, how--
ever, in the above general Ordinances, in the article relating to
the Bed-chamber is obſervable,, as far as it regards the BAND,,
* Lord Chamberlain's Ofice-Books..
+ A ſimilar manoeuvre had been made uſe of [A. D. 1688] in the Corps of the
Teomen of the Guard, when, by a diminution: of the number of Yeomen, ſalaries.
were raiſed for the payment of ſome additional Officers. [Lord Chamberlain's Of-
fice-Books.]
Preſent State of the year 1687. This is confirmed by a Liſt of all the King's
forces, (including the Penſioners and the Yeomen) made and printed 1684..
fx Chamberlayne's Preſent State of that date.
tending
::
-
78
The KING'S Honourable Band
tending to clear up a point of Eţiquette, which has ſometimes
admitted of a doubt, viz:- Whether the CAPTAIN of the Horſe-
Guards, in Waiting (now beſt known by the name of the Gold-
ſtick) or the CAPTAIN of the Band of Penſioners has precedence?
The queſtion lias ariſen from the following words in the Orders
of K. K. Ch, I. II. (before given at large). viz. The BAND
s of our PENSIONERS having the Honour to be our neareſt Guard,
166 83c."
I have ſeen an extract from Orders of K. Ch. II. (1678) which
ſay that.“ An Officer of Our Horſe-Guards is always to attend
" and follow next our Perſon when we walk abroad, or paſs up
« and down from one place to another, as well within doors as
“ without, excepting always Our Bed-chamber." In conformity
with this laſt declaration the Orders of K. James II. for the
Government of the Bed-chamber of the year 168.5 ſay, that
.“ Whenfoever we repair to our Chapel, or elſewhere, or give
“ audience to an Ambaffador, or other public Miniſter, out of.
o the diſtries of our Bed-chamber, the CAPTAIN of Our Horſe-
- Guards in Waiting, the CAPTAIN of Our Penſioners and the
- CAPTAIN of Our Yeomen of the Guard ſhall take his place,
166 and foHow next and itè mediately unto Our Perſon *." This
ſeems to confirm the before-cited Ordinance of K. Charles II.
the CAPTAIN Of the Horfe-Guards being here firit mentioned.
Should any doubrs ariſe hereäfter, (for I do not prefume to urge
any thing definitive,) the noble competitors may from hence form
ſome judgment as to the merit of their reſpective claims, with
a Salvo jure to the reigning Monarch, who can decide at plea..
* Muſeum. [Vide Ayſcough's Catalogue. Article the laſt.] This tranfcript of
the Orders for the government of the Royal Bed-Chamber, I hail the Honour to
preſent to the Murfeum, 1982. It is a very fair copy, and was bought by' me out
of the before-mentioned Collection of the face George Scott, Elg.
ſure.
!
-
1
!
1
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
79
fure. As I give 110 opinion, it is hoped I have not arrogated too
much in taking the opportunity of bringing theſe circumſtances
together.
The Æra of the Revofution,favourable to fome, and ungenial
to others, according to the parts they took in the preceding
commotions, found in the Band of PenAigners ſeveral whoſe for
mer political attachments. now militated againſt their intereſts ;
and it is no wonder that in a body of Forty Gentlemen of ſome
weight and conſequence, at a moment fo important both to civiz
and religious liberty, feveral ſhould be diſcovered whoſe known
inclinations were, fecretly at leaſt, adverſe to the change.
On the acceſſion of KINGWILLIAM, John Lord Lovelace, a:
Nobleman who had not been: lefs active againſt K. James that
he was firm and zealous in the cauſe of the Houſe of Naſlaug
was placed in the command of the BAND* His Lordſhip, very
:
foon after he received his appointment, diflodged ſome of the
Gentlemen, for which he gave a manly, loyal, and unequivocal
reaſop), to this effect :--that ſeveral of thoſe who had been the
Guard to the late King JAMES were not proper to have the Care
of the Perſon of King WILLIAM. As the Account of this
Tranſaction, Sir, is no where to be found but in the Books of the
Council-Office, (from whence, with permiſſion, I extracted it)
\ ſhall trouble you with the particulars at large
On the landing of the Prince of Orange, (1688) at Torbay; Lord Eovelace
joined him with 70 Horſe, which, in an engagement with the Militia of the county
: of:Glouceſter, were all taken priſoners. (Collins's Peerage, 1735.]
4. To
:
--
80
The KING!$ Honourable Band:
*** To the KING's moſt excellent MAJESTY and the Right Hon.
..66. the Lords of his MAJESTY's Mof Honourable Privy
166 COUNCIL.
1
66 The humble Petition of ſeveral of your MAJESTY's Band
“ of Gentlemen Penſioners and of William Thomas, Eja;
Clerk of the Chegue and Paymäſter to the ſaid Band.
6 Sheweth,
96. That the ſaid Band of Gentlemen Penſioners was eſta-
.
“ bliſhed in the Reign of your MAJESTY's Royal anceſtor, KING
“ HENRY the Seventh *, as the Firſt Guard to his ,Royal Perſon,
.66 and his ſucceſſors, and have ever ſince accordingly been con-
- tinued from ſucceſſion to fucceffion; and the meaſure of the
CAPTAIN's power over them is by certain Articles, limited,
" and liberty allowed, as well to the Clerk of the Cheque as to
“ every one of the ſaid Band, of diſpoſing of their reſpective
“ Places, (reſerving the approbation of ſuch Gentlemen to whom
66 ſuch diſpoſition ſhould be made; to their Majesties and their
ſucceſſors,) and never have been amoveable at the will of their
66. CAPTAIN, and the ſame liberty hath been allowed to the
6. Paymaſter, who is a Patent Officer,
. And your MAJESTY's Petitioners are not conſcious toʻthem-
Qc felves of any Negleét relating to the Duty of their faid Places
" and Offices, nor hath there ever been any objection made to
6 the due executing thereof; and your Petitioners can truly fay
fe" they have neither acted nor ſpoke, in complianice to the late
... times, any-thing which miglat weaken the Proteſtant intereſt,
166 or injure our Laws, but, on the contrary, conſtantly ex-
.66 preſſed their diſſatisfaction to the meaſures then taken to the
“ prejudice of both.
* Erroneous. Vid. ſuprą.
- Not
/
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
81
.
“ Notwithſtanding all this, the Right Honourable the LORD
" Lovelace, the preſent CAPTAIN, hath, without any regard
“ to this ancient Eſtabliſhment and Quality of the Gentlemen
whom he commands, diſplaced and turned out more than half
of the ſaid BAND, and your Petitioners in particular.
6 Your Petitioners therefore moſt humbly beſeech your MA-
Jesty, that they may be continued in their faid Places and
“ Offices, not having hitherto miſbehaved themſelves, and being
“ moſt heartily diſpoſed to your MAJESTY's ſervice.
“ And your Petitioners ſhall ever pray for your MAJESTY'S
o long life and happy Reign.
(Signed)
“ Roger Coningſby, 66 Robert Dacres,
John Duncombe,
6. Anth. Gaudy,
« J Cripps,
66 William Thomas,
« Rich. Spencer,
« Henry Yaxlee,
66 Samuel Alſton,
" Geo. Lluelline.
• Received April 8, 1689,
o Read May 9, 1689."
In conſequence of this Petition, an Order was made that
LORD LOVELACE ſhould give in an anſwer to the Council-Board.
This
may
be collected from a Caſe which will appear preſently;
for the Order itſelf is not entered in the Regiſter Books of the
Council-Office. Upon his Lordſhip's non-compliance, the dif-
carded Penfioners preſented à Second Petition (on the 30th of May)
to the ſame effect as the former, which produced the following
Order.
L
66 Order
82
The KING's Honourable Bandi
* Order of Council upon the Second Petition of the GENTLEMEN
6 PENSIONERS.
* At the Court at Hampton-Court, June 27, 1689.
66 P R E SENT,
co The KING's Moft excellent MAJESTY.
" WHEREAS the Right Honourable LORD LOVELACE, CAP-
“ TAIN of his MAJESTY's Band of Gentlemen Penfioners, was, by
sic Order of the Board of the gth of May laft, deſired to return
“ his anſwer to a Petition of ſeveral Gentlemen Penſioners, and
" of William Thomas, Eſq; Clerk of the Cheque, and Paymaſter
bo to the faid Band, who had fately been removed from their
'* Places, which his Lordſhip not having hitherto done; it was
“ upon another Petition of the faid Penfoners and Paymaſter
“ this day ordered by his MAJESTY in Council, that the ſaid
“ LORD LOVELACE be defired to haſten his ſaid anſwer, to the
“ end his MAJESTY may take ſuch reſolation thereupon as in
“ his great wiſdom thall be thought fit."
LORD Lovel ACE ſtill withholding his anfwer, the Gentlemen
preferred a third Petition to the King and Council, with a Caſe
annexed, as follows:
" To the King's moſt excellent MAJESTY, and the Rigbt Ho-
“6 nourable the Lords of his MAJESTY's mof Honourable Privy
66 Council.
" The bumble Petition of Jeveral of your MAJESTY'S Band
6 of Gentlemen Penſioners, and of William Thomas,
« Efg. Clerk of the Cheque, aud Paymaker of the Saidi
Band.
" Sheweth,
" That on reading of their Petition delivered to your Ma.
JESTY in Council the 8th day of April laſt, it was ordered
66 that the LORD LOVELA CE ſhould forthwith give in his anſwer
“ to the ſaid Petition. That on reading your Petitioners ſecond
Petition,
:
of CENNOMEN PENSIONER.
83
-
:
Petition, which was preſented to your MAJESTY in Council
“ the zoth day of May laſt, ſetting forth the Lord LoveLACE's
delay, your MAJÈSTÝ was pleaſed to order in Council the
6 faid LORD LOVELACE ſhould haften his anſwer; but his Lord-
Thip hạth vot yet thought fit to obey either of the ſaid Or-
- ders, he being (as we humbly conceive) not able to give in an
46 anſwer to the fame; but by trouble, delay, and charge, to weary
* out your MAJESTY'S Petitioners.
4 Therefore humbly pray your ſacred MAJESTY's and this
$ Honourable Board's confideration on this ſevere uſage; and ſince
- the LORD LOVELACE hath ſo delayed your Petitioners, and
“ neglects to obey your MAJESTY's Orders, his Lordſhip may
66 be ordered to give in his anſwer by. a prefixed day; otherwiſe
" that they may be ordered to continue in their faid Places and
:66 Offices, they being all known Proteſtants, and heartily af.
☆ fected to your MAJESTY's ſervice.
" And your Petitioners fhall ever pray, &c.
" Received July 11, 1689.
6 Read in Council July 13, 1689.
“ The Gentlemen Pensioners, their Case on the Third Pe-
bi tition.
6. That the BAND of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS was eſta-
bliſhed by KING HENRY the Seventh *, and have ever ſince
66 continued. The Rules for their Duty and the CAPTAIN'S
“ Power are ſet forth in ſeveral Articles. KING CHARLES the
66 Second made Eſtabliſhments, where they have liberty to dif-
" pofe of their Places, his MAJESTY reſerving the approbation of
“ ſuch perſons (to be brought in to himſelf: That no perſon thus
66 admitted hath been ever removed at the Il/ill of the CAPTAIN,
* Erroneous, as before.
L 2
$
66 and
A
84
The KING'S Honourable Band
“ and till now never any CAPTAIN, pretended to any ſuch
power *.
" Notwithſtanding all this, the LORD LOVELACE, the preſent
“ CAPTAIN, hath turned out more than Half the Band, without
any regard to their ancient-Eſtabliſhment, or Quality of the
« Gentlemen whom he commands.
“ His Lordſhip, after ſeveral of the Band were ſworn to his
“ preſent MAJESTY, cauſed them to cloath themſelves for the
“ CORONATION, and obliged them to buy at his Draper's and
“ Laceman's,--pay ready monies, and all this at a dear rate,
yet hath turned out the ſame.
• The Gentlemen PensionERS, for theſe grievances have,
“ by ſeveral Petitions to his MAJESTY in Council, complained
“ of their ſevere uſage ; and on reading the firſt Petition, it was
“.ordered that the LORD LOVELACE ſhould forthwith give in his
“6 anſwer, which was on the oth day of May laſt. His Lordſhip
neglecting to comply with the ſaid Order, on their ſecond Peti-
- tion he was ordered to haften the ſaid anſwer; but to this day
" he hath not thought fit to obey either of the faid Orders. His
Lordſhip being lately deſired to put in his Anſwer, he ſays
- he will do it at his own leiſure. Thus, by delays, trouble, and
“ charge, his Lordſhip deſigns to weary us out, in contempt of
66 the fäid Orders.
" We now pray, in our Third Petition, a day may be prefixed
“ for his putting in his Anſwer, in order to a Hearing, or that his
MAJESTY would continue us in our ſaid Places and Offices.”
This Third Petition produced his LORDSHIP's Anfwer, and a
definitive Order of Council upon it in the following terms.
* The Eftabliſhments here alluded to have not appeared to me in the courſe
of this inveſtigation. The Orders of King Charles II. of the year 1677, which
lie before me, as well as thoſe of King Charles I. (given p. 69.) expreſsly direct
that the PensioNERS“ be freely chosen by OUR KNOWLEDGE."
16 The
>>
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
85
*
..
“ The Anſwer of Jolin LORD LOVELACE to the Petition of feveral
6 of the late BAŃD of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS; prefented to
" His MAJESTY in Council.
66. That your MAJESTY having made this. Reſpondent CAP-
TAIN of your MAJESTY's BAND. of. GENTLEMEN PENSION-
ERS, and your MAJESTY having eſtabliſhed all the other
" Officers: this Reſpondent did make choice of, and did ada
6. mit and ſwear,, according to the Truſt repoſed by your
“ MAJESTY in him, fit perſons into the faid BAND, being
“ GENTLEMEN of Quality and entire Fidelity to your Majeſty's
- ſervice, and for whom this. Reſpondent can be anſwerable to
your MAJESTY.
66 As to the Petitioners Complaints that, they were in poffef-
«, ſion of their Employments under the late King James, im-
6 mediately before your Majesty's Acceſſion to the Crown, and
o that they did purchaſe their Places, and are not amoveable
" at the Will of their CAPTAIN-This Reſpondent doth humbly
4 anſwer, that the Petitioners have not been amoved; for not
of them have been choſen or placed in by this Refpo12-
“ dent: but the Petitioners holding their Employments under
65 the laſt KING as his Guard, and only during the pleaſure of
- the faid King, the ſame are abſolutely determined ;--and their
having been the Guard to the late KING James does not ſeem
66 to recommend them, that they ſhould therefore be the Guard
" to your MAJESTY.
« And as it has been the method peculiar to your Majesty's
“ Armies, that Military Offices have not been bought, but ſome
“ have been conferred for Merit only—this Reſpondent dares
o not think that the Guard and Defence of your Majesty's
Perfon (which is the greateſt Truſt that can be in this World)
pould be bought and ſold for Money."
" However
one
1
The KING'S -Honorable Band
86
“ However, this Reſpondent doth humbly ſubmit himſelf
is herein and in all things to your MAJESTY's Will and Pleas
« Yure, he having hitherto and intending always to ſerve your
MAJESTY, with an honeſt Heart and with clean Hands.
“ This Reſpondent therefore humbly prays that the Petition
" may be diſmiſſed chis BOARD.
LOVELAÇE.
si Road in Council, July 23, 1689."
• At the Court at Whitehall, the 25th of July, 1689.
66 P R ES E N T...
- The King's moft Excellent MAJESTY. ,
6. WHEREAS, on the Petition of ſeveral of their MAJESTIES BAND
65 of GenTLEMEN PENSIONERS, aud of William Thomas, Eſq;
sc Clerk of the Cheque, and Paymaſter to the ſaid BAND, ſetting
36 forth that the Right Honourable LORD LOVELACE, the preſent
" CAPTAIN of the ſaid BAND, hath diſplaced and turned out the
56. ſaid Penſioners of the ſaid BAND; and humbly praying that they
may
be continued in their faid Places and Offices, not having
66 hitherto miſbehaved themſelves, and being moſt heartily
s diſpoſed to his MAJESTY's ſervice-it was, on the 8th of May
6c laft, ordered in Council, that the LORD LOVELACE ſhould
“ have a copy of the ſaid Petition, and return his anſwer there-
66 unto to this Board. And whereas on the 18th inſtant his MA-
JESTY. in.Council was pleaſed to appoint a Hearing of the Per
os titioners this day at the Board, touching what they had to al.
"ledge, who being called in and heard, and the Anſwer of the
- LORD Lovelace being alſo read, his MAJESTY in Council,
upon the whole matter, thought fit to declare, that ſuch per-
“ fons as have been put into the BAND of GentLEMEN PEN-
66 SIONERS by the ſaid LORD LOVELACE, ſhall remain and con.
“ tinue in their places :--but that for the future no perſon ſhall
5
66 be
is
66
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
87
66 be admitted into the Band of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS
“ who ſhall not be firſt preſented to his MAJESTY for his MA-
JESTY's Allowance and Approbation.”
After what paſſed at the Revolution, Sir, nothing further
is to be traced in the Reign of King William. It does not apa
pear that the coinplainants againft Lord Lovelace were reſtored
by the King, neither do they feem to have urged their Cafe
again to his Majeſty. Q. ANNE, however, was afterwards pleaſed
to ſhew ſome tenderneſs to two of the diſcarded parties, vīz, to
William Thomas, Clerk of the Cheque, and Samuel Afton, one of
the Gentlemen of the Band. They feverally preferred Petitions
to the Queen and Council (now remaining in the Regiſter-Books)
praying relief, and obtained a mandatory recommendation to the
Duke of St. Albans (then CAPTAIN) to replace both of them on
the firſt vacancies. I have thrown the proceedings hereupon in
Council into a note
*
*.*. At the Court at St. James's, the moſt day of May, 1J0Z
6 PRESENT
66. The Queen's moft excellent MAJESTY.
« Upon reading this day at the Board a Report from the DÜKĖ OP STO
ALBANs on the Petition of William Thomas, ſetting forth, that in May 16733
* he was ſworn and admitted into the place of Clerk of the Cheque to the Band of
" Gentlemen Penſioners, to hold the ſame for his Life, by Virtue of a: Warrang
6' froin King Charles IL for which. Employment as he alledges he
gave
Seden Hun.
“ dredi
: Pounds, and continued therein till he was diſplaced by the late Lord Loves
“ tace, CAPTAIN of the BAND, without Reafon given for his Removal: and upon
· hearing the faid William Thomas thereunto, her MAJESTY in Council taking
“ the Petitioner's Cafe into confideration, is pleaſed to order that the Petitioner
* be, and he is hereby, recommended to his Grace the DUKE OF ST. ALBANS,
" preferably to any other perſon to be put into the faid Office of the ſaid Band
“ of Penſioners upon the firſt Vacancy that ſhall happen."
The Order in Mr. Alſton's Cafe runs in fimilar terms, as follows.
88
The King's Honourable Band
It has appeared on the face of theſe Orders of Council, that
Mr. Thomas purchaſed the Office of Clerk of the Cheque, as did
Mr. Alfon that of Gentleman Penfoner in the reign of K. Charles
II. which conſideration might lead to the QUEEN's clemency:
though, at the ſame time, the tranſaction taken in the groſs
ſeems to have given great offence to her MAJESTY, who, on
her Acceſſion, had ifſued the following ſtrong Declaration from
the Council-board, that no Office in the Houſhold ſhould there-
after be purchaſed, on pain not only of the Royal Diſpleaſure,
but of actual diſmiſſion *
*** At the Court at St. James's, the 17th day of May, 1903.
« PRESENT,
“ The Queen's moſt excellent MAJESTY,
“Upon reading this day at the Board the Petition of Samuel Alſton, ſet-
“ ting forth that he was turned out of the Band of Gentlemen Penſioners (which
" employment coſt hiin Five Hundred Pounds) by the late Lord Lovelace, without
any Cauſe alledged, as his Grace the DUKE OF ST. ALBANS certified in a Re-
port, and humbly praying that an Order of Council of the 23d. of May, 1695,
whereby the Petitioner was recommended by their Excellencies the then Lords
“ Juſtices to his Grace the Duke of St. Albans, to be admitted into and placed
upon the Eftab'iſhment of the Band, upon the firſt vacancy that hould happen
“ therein, may be confirmed according to its Date and Precedency :
“ It is ordered by her MAJESTY in Council that the ſaid Samuel Alſton accord,
" ingly be, and and he is hereby, recommended to his Grace the DUKE OF ST. AL-
BANS, CAPTAIN. of the Band of Gentlemen Penſioners, to be admitted into and
“ placed upon the Etablidhment of the ſaid Band, upon the first vacancy that
“ Ihall happen therein, according to the intention of the faid Order.”
* There is the more reaſon to ſuppoſe that there the Queen conſidered Mr. Tho-
mas's Caſe with reſpect to the poſt of Clerk of the Chèque, as compaſſionable, in
regard it was purchaſed; becauſe no notice is taken of the Paymaſterſhip in the
preceding Order, nor does Mr. Thomas any where repreſent that Office in the
ſame light,
1
66 At
3
Ö GENFLEMEN PONSIONERS.
?
* At the Court at St. James's, the ad day of July, 1902.
PRESENT.
the The QUEEN's moſt excellent MAJESTY.
6 Her MAJESTY is pleaſed to acquaint the Lords of the
*** Council, That having ſettled her Family and Houſhold, her
6 MAJESTY had reſolved to hinder the ſelling of Places for the
future, and to declare her Pleaſure, That no officer. or Perſon
depending on her MAJESTY, do preſume to ſell any Office or
$6 Place. And to the end that this her MAJESTY's Royal Pleaſure
« be made public in the beſt manner, her MAJESTY, with the
26 advice of her Privy Council, has thought fit to order that Mr.
156 Attorney General and Mr. Sollicitor General do prepare the
“ draught of a Declaration to be publiſhed in her MAJESTY'S
w Name accordingly, and do preſent the fame to her MAJESTY
66 at this Board, for her Royal Approbation."
In conſequence of theſe Inſtructions to her MAJESTY's Attor-
ney General and Sollicitor General, the following: Declaration
was iſſued :
66. At the Court..at St. James's the gth day of July, 1.702.
6. PRE::E N T
4. The Queen's moſt excellent MAJESTY.
“ Her MAJESTY is pleaſed to declare that ſhe judges the fel
16 ling of Offices and Places in her Houſhold and Family to be
6 highly diſhonourable to her MAJESTY, prejudicial to her
66. Service, and a diſcouragement to Virtue and true Merit, which
46. can and ſhall only recommend perſons to her Royal Appro-
66. bation; and that her MAJEST-Y is :reſolved to prevent ſuch
6. felling of the fame: and therefore declares her Pleaſure to be
-66, that no Officer or Servant whatſoever that is or ſhall be of
“ HER Family or Houfhold, do pręfume ta fell.or buy, or ſuf-
* fer to be fold or bought, any Office or Place therein under
M
pain
1
1
:
go
The King's Honourable Band
66. pain of incurring her MAJESTY's diſpleaſure, and of Being
6 removed from her ſervice; and that all perſons concerned may
“ take notice hereof, her MAJESTY' commands that this Decla-
* ration.be forthwith printed and publiſhed.”.
It was accordingly made public by the Gazette of the 13th of
July.
Herein we have again followed the French practice, for the ſame
abuſe had crept repeatedly into the Gardes du Corps, and Ordi-
Nances were as often made to reform it*. At what point of
time theſe and other ſimilar Offices in our Court relapſed into a
ftate of Venality I do not learn ; but it was probably a gradual
encroachment, which, from indulgence, grew into an inherent
right, the purchaſer claiming in his turn to become a Vendor;
and it is matter of public notoriety, that, by connivance, ſuch
Poſts continue to be transferable property at this day. Theſe
tranſactions, however, had certainly met with an abolition by
the authority of Parliament in the preſent Reign, had not the
univerſálity of tlie practice and the hardſhip attending the mea.
ſure protected the parties, the particulars of which affair I ſhall.
mention briefly in the order of time. It is obvious, however, to"
remark, that the loſs of dignity muſt of courſe follow, when
Offices once for honourable, became indiſcriminately open to
every purchaſer; and, from what we have ſeen on the whole,
we may obſerve, with Rere Daniella SPLENDEUR d'un dels
i plus illuſtres Corps- qui ait eté dans la Maiſon de nos Rois, et fa
• DECADENCE entiere. "
Nothing: further being diſeernible in this; or indeed in the
following Reign, we may paſs on-to that of K. GEORGE II: the
interval being merely filled with Orders for general and parti-
cular Attendances, Difpenfations for Abſence, &c. The letter
* P. Daniel, Hift. de la Milice Françoiſe, Tom. II. p. 139.
+ Idem. p. 111.
of.
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONÉRS.
92
of the Duke of Montagu, mentioned before, (p. 69.) belongs
to this period, in the year 1734, which, while it gives a very
polite reprehenſion for previous neglect, and exacts a rigorous
attention to duty, admits at the ſame time of a latitude in ſome
particulars which exiſts at preſent.
A Letter from his Grace John Duke of Montagu, Captain of
the BAND of PENSIONERS, to the Clerk of the Cheque *.
66 SIR,
me
“ As his MAJESTY has done me the honour to entruſt
os
with the Command of his Honourable Band of Gentlemen
** Penſioners, ſo I think it an indiſpenſible duty incumbent upon
“ me to do every thing in that Truſt which may be for the
“ Honour of his MAJESTY and of the Band; and not to ſuffer
any thing which may derogate from either. The Band of Pen-
"fioners, as they have the honour to be his MAJESTY.'s neareſt
« Guard, ſo they are intitled to an honour which no other of
“ his Guards have, which is that of mounting Guard daily in
“ his Majesty's Preſence-Chamber, and thereby becoming more
s nearly entruſted than any other in the immediate Guard of his
“ MAJESTY's ſacred Perſon.
“This Honour was firſt granted to the Band by K. Henry,
“ VIII. by the Ordinances made by him for the Government
o of the Band, and was confirmed by K. Charles 1. in the year
“ 1633-by K. Charles II. in the year 1677--and by K. James
os 11. 1684.
“ This material, and one of the moſt honourable parts of the
“ Duty belonging to the Gentlemen Penfioners, they are not
si only under the penalty of the Cheque, but by the Oath taken
* Extracted from the Order-Book, by permiſſion of the Captain of the Band.
M2
66 at
-
-
med
1
1
--
The KING'S Hộnourable Band
" at their Admiffion, obliged to perform; by which Oath they
- are bound to obſerve the Rales and Articles already made; oro
“ which ſhall be hereafter made for the Government of the
“* Band, and in all things to be obedient to their Officers, fo fare
ss as their Commands ſhall concern the fervice of the King's.
" MAJESTY.
“. But notwithftanding their obligations; I have obferved this
“ material part of their Duty of daily attendánce in the Preſence--
" Chamber has been of late years neglected; which I can attri--
66 bute to 110 other cauſe in the Gentlemen than the want of
“ their being rightly informed of their Duty, which if they had?
“ known, I am perfuaded they: would never have neglected that
« Dúty which they owe to his MAJESTY and obliged to by their
* Oath, and which is a diſhonour for them to omit.
And as I am perſuadedřit will be entirely pleafing to the.
66 Gentlemen to have them maintained in every part of the Ho-
66. nourable Privileges belonging to them, which at the ſame
6.time is confiſtent with the Duty which myſelf and tħey owe-
“ to his MAJESTY :: it is my intention that from New-year's.
66 Dáy next you do take düe care, (as you are obliged by your
“ 'Office either by yourſelf or by your Deputy) that the Gentle-
men of the Band do attend every morning with their Ares in
" the Preſence-Chamber.
By the Articles of the Band, the whole Band are to at..
• tend during Chriſtmas time, but I ſhall diſpenſe with the at--
" tendance of the whole for this time,--provided that all the
- Gentlemen, who are now in town, do give their attendauce
on the firſt of January, and that from that time forward Five
« of the Gentlemen do attend every morning*, in the Preſence-
6. Chamber, with their Axes, from the hour of Ten till his MA-
:-
* At that time the Kag had a Levée every morning.
5
JESTY
1
1
--
-
1
1
F GENTLEMEN: PENSIONER:8.
9:3
JESTY is gone to Dinner, and that they alſo attend with their
" Battle - Axes in the Preſence-Chamber every Drawing-room
“ night, and other public nights *, from Eight o'clock in the
“ evening till his MAJESTY is retired, and always to ſtand to
“ their Arms when any of the ROYAL FAMILY, or the CAP-
".TAIN paſs-by.
* This is what I deſire you will forthwith acquaint the Lieu-
" tenant, Standard-bearer, and Gentlemen of the Bandi with,.
“ and as it is a Duty ſo much for the Honour of the King to
“ have performed, and for the Gentlemen to perform, ſo I am
6 perſuaded it will be with the greateſt pleaſure the Gentle-
s men will receive this Order, and that conſequently they will
“ obey it with the greateſt chearfulneſs..
66. I am, Sir,
46 Your Friend and Servant,
16-MONTAGU.
66 Dittor,
-6.Dec. 28; 17340-
" I would have you every week lét me have a Return of the
6.Names of the ſeveral Gentlemen that have mounted Guard on:
66 the ſeveral days of that week...
".To George Turner, Efqo
- Clerk of the Cheque to
4 the Band of Penfioners."
The BAND of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS; Sir, having beeit.fo
long a mere appendage to the King's ſtate and the parade of the
Court, one does not expect to hear again of Mufters, Horſes, Ariss,
&c. but the internal diſquietude of the northern parts of the king-
dom had, in the year 1745, fo nearly called the KING into the
* Queen Caroline had her Drawing-Rooms-in an Evening.
Field,
94
The King's Honourable Band
.66 SIR,
Field, that the BAND actually received an Order from Sir Wit-
liam Wynne the LIEUTENANT, in the abſence of Lord Hobart,
(the CAPTAIN) to prepare themſelves to attend his MAJESTY,
who had reſolved to ſet up his Standard on Finchley. Commoni.
Every body knows that the deciſive battle of Culloden, gained
by his late Royal Highneſs William Duke of Cumberland, pre-
vented the King from taking the field. The following are the
words of the Order ſent by the Clerk of the Cheque to each Gen.
tleman to accompany the Royal Standarda
6. Dec. 5, 1745.
“ The Rebels having advanced to:Derby, the King has
“ signified his intention to ſet up his Standard on Finchley Com-
You are therefore commanded to acquaint the Gentle-
46 men of the Band to be in readineſs with their Servants, Horſes,
66 and Arms, to attend his MAJESTY there.
.66 I am, Sir,
6. Your Friend and humble Servant,
66 WILLIAM WYNNE
“ To George Turner, Eſq; Clerk
“ of the Cheque to his MA-
JESTY's Band of Gentlemen
Penſioners.”
66 mon.
1
i
Thus far, Sir, I have brought forward every material occure
rence that I have been able to collect reſpecting the BAND, in
chronological order, nearly to the middle of the preſent Cen-
tury; and yet a circumſtance happened ſo lately as the year
1782, which muſt not be paſſed over in fileiice.
Chamberlayne tells us, that one old privilege of the Gentle-
inen Penſioners was that they ſhould be admitted to Commiſſions
* Order-Book of the Band,
in
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
95
in the Army preferably to all other perſons whatſoever. I
have not ſeen the Authority for ſuch an Affertion, but it con-
forms very much with what is ſtated in Lord Hunſdon's letter
to King James I. where the Band is conſidered as a ſchool, to
qualify Gentlemen for higher and more active Employments.
This remove from the Band into the Army-eſtabliſhinent, I am
informed; was meditated a few years ago, when the Earl'of.
Lichfield had the Command; but difficulties aroſe concerning
Rank, and the matter dropped.
An intention of an inverſe nature was entertained by Mr.
Burke, in his Bill for the Reform of the Royal Houſhold, which
was brought into the Houſe of Commons in the above year 1782,
whereby it was propoſed that 110 Poft under the command of the
CAPTAIN of the BAND thould be ſold, but be fupplied there-
after by Officers of the Navy or Army upon Half-pay of a certain
ſtanding, (left to the determination of a parliamentary Committee)
from the date of their firſt Commiſſion. The Officers of the Yeo-
men of the Guard (the CAPTAIN excepted), were placed in the
fame predicament. This Clauſe, if carried to effect, would have
been fraught with private injury, inaſmuch as the Officers of both
theſe Bodies, as well as the Gentlemen of the Band then in Of.
fice, had all bought their Poſts on the faith of their transfera-
bility, and would thereby have been tied down to a life-intereſt.
only, after having paid for their reſpective Purchaſes from one
to fix thouſand Guineas. Mr. Burke, on the ſecond introduc-
tion of his Bill with amendments, became ſenſible of the op-
preſſion involved in the firſt draught of it, and the Clauſe was :
Preſent Sta:e of the Year” 1737; by John Chamberlayne; Efq.--He adds, ,
That none ſhall be adınitted into the Band except they ſhall have ſerved at their
own Charge; for Six Months at leaſt, as Gentlemen at Arms, or Penſioners. Ex-
traordinary. This circunſtance, for want of confirmation, I leave doubtful, .
omitted
96
The King's Honourable Band
--
omitted ; but not till the Band of Penſioners, on their part, had
preſented the following Petition to the Houſe of Commons.
66 To the Honorable the COMMONS of Great Britain in Parlia-
.66 ment aſſembled.
.66 The Humble Petition of the Gentlemen belonging to the Ho-
ts vorable:Band.of. Penfioners,
66 Sheweth,
"66 THAT your Petitioners having peruſed the Bill before
..66 this Honorable Houſe, ' For enabling his Maj:Jły to diſcharge the
“ Debt contrasted upon the Civil Liſt Revenues, and for prevent-
“ ing the ſame from being in arrear for the future, by regulating
" the mode of payment out of the ſaid Revenues, and by ſuppreſſing
166.or regulating certain Offices therein mentioned, which are now
“ paid out of the Revenues of the Civil Lift;' are under the greateſt
concern to find it propoſed to be enacted by ſuch Bill, That
« all Commiſſion and other Officers belonging to the Band of Gentle-
166 men Penſioners, under the CAPTAIN of the Band, as alſo the
6. Vacancies in the Band of Gentlemen Penſioners, ſhould not be
fold, but that the Officers and private Gentlemen of the Band of
* Penfioners ſhould be filled only by Officers of the Army or Navy
upon
Half-Pay :'
66 That your Petitioners beg leave to inform this. Honorable
6. House, that it has been cuſtomary for many years paſt to
66 purchaſe the Office or place of a private Gentleman of the
« Band of Penſioners, and to ſell the ſame (with the approba-
sc tion ºf the CAPTAIN) as occaſion offered:
" That, in, confidence of being permitted to ſell fuch Office
16 or Place, your Petitioners have been induced to give, on an
66. average, One Thouſand Guineas for the ſame:
-66
46 That
of GENTLEMEN PensioNERS.
97
66 That the Salary of ſuch Office or Place, after payment of
66 the Land Tax and other out-goings, ſeldom producing more
" than the net annual ſum of Seventy-nine pounds, and the ex-
pence of the neceſſary regimental or uniform-dreſs of your
“. Petitioners being deducted thereout, reduces the Income to
“ about Seventy-ſix Pounds per annum:
“. That many of your Petitioners being Gentlemen of ſmall
« fortunes, and having little elſe to depend on than this income,
“ and ſome of your Petitioners being married and having chil-
• dren, will be very much diſtreſſed if they fhould not be per-
st mitted to feļl their Offices or Places.
" Your Petitioners therefore with the greateſt Deference ſub-
“ mit their Cafe to the Juſtice and Wiſdom of this Ho-
66. norable House, truſting, that an due Confideration they
“ fhall have ſuch Indemnities and Relief in the Premites,
as to this Honorable House pall feein meet.
" And your Petitioners shall ever pray.
From the fore-göing Petition, Sir, the prefent ſtate of the BAND
may in most points be collected: but notwithlanding I have tref
pafled ſo much bn your patience, there are fome particulars yet
remaining, with which I muſt beg leave to detain you for a few
minutes longer.
In the Liſt of the Officers and Gentlemen before given in the
Reign of KING HENRY, and in all others which I have ſeen, the.
Harbinger is mentioned, of whom we have as yet taken no no.
tice, and who, we learn from Lord Hunſdón's Letter, had the
Rank of a Gentleman-Harbinger. Our Kings, till the late Reform
(1782) had three Orders of Harbingers, viz. A Knight-Harbin-
ger ;-one or more Gentlemen-Harbingers ; and five or more
Yeomen-Harbingers.
ori. It is not neceſſary to go into the functions
N
of
98
The KING's Honourable Band.
of theſe Officers on this occaſion ;: ſuffice it to fay, that in the
diſtribution of lodgings formerly, when the Court moved it.
progreffes, &c. the Knight-Harbinger provided for the accom.-
modation of the King and Royal FAMILY; -the Gentlemen.
Harbingers for the Great Officers, -and the Feomen-Harbingers
for the reſt of the Retinue*. it was therefore no ſmall honour
that the BAND of PENSIONERS-ſhould be allowed'a peculiar. Of
ficer of this denomination, and a ſtill greater, that he ſhould be of
the ſecond Order. There is at this time another Appendage of a.
late date, viz. a Melenger and Axe-keeper, (conſolidated Offices)
not properly a branch of the Eſtabliſhment, as the party is paid by
the BAND :: this latter appurtenance however ſeems rather to..
have been:& revival, by geperal confent-;: for. we have feen that.
formerly each Gentleman, on, Muſters, and ſuch other occaſions,
was allowed to have his Axe: borne after him, by a fervant, tox
the places of Rendezvous to
The GENTLEMEŇ, PENSIONERS are now ſtyled Eſquires-in-theit:
Warrants of Appointment, which puts them upon a par with CAP...
Tains in the Army, though they have no military Rank; and
yet it is obſervable, that in the Proclamation whereby Mr. Percy-
is declared a Traitor, in the Reign of K. James I. he is deſcribed
by, the name and addition of Thomas Percy,.Gentleman. There
were ſeveral Proclamations relating to him, in not one of which :
he is ſtyled Equirer
At what time the Uniform was:firft. adopted - ſimilar to it's ..
preſent mode (according to the faſhion of the day), I cannot
determine, though it may moſt probably be attributed to the per
* The Ofices of Gentleman-Harbinger and Yeomen. Härbingers, were aboliſhed :
1782! and that of-Knight-Harbinger, now:only remains,
py I find. no trace of theſe ſubordinate Officers in the Preſent:States, either of:
Chamberlayne or Miege, till the beginning of the Reign of King George II;'
The Meſſenger's is the oftenfible Office, and
the Pof.
of Axe-keeper is underſtood to..paſs with it, though not expreſſed in the Mef-...
Jenger's Warrant.
riod
"
of GENTLEMEN Pensioners.
99
riod of the Reſtoration, from which time it has acquired on
every change, a ſtill more military Caft. There ſeems gene-
rally to have been a conformity of dreſs, at leaſt in the Outward
Garment of the Band: thus at the ſiege of Boulogne, (1544) we
have ſeen the Penſioners habited alike, and agaió at the Corona-
tion of K. Edw. VI. though indeed at one of the Muſters in that
King's Reign they appear variouſly dreſſed and ornamented. We
however find their Habit reſtored to uniformity in the Reigns of
Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth, after which we have no view of it
till we come very near our own times *. The preſent Uniform
is ſo well known as to require no deſcription, and may poſſibly
alter in ſome points on the next Renewal, being entirely at the
pleaſure of the Captain, with the King's approbation but I
ſeem to have ſaid enough already on the ſubject to draw upon
myſelf the Cenſure which Biſhop Nicolſon has paffed upon Hall
the Chronicler +.
With reſpect to other Enfigns of Office, the CAPTAIN bears
an Ebony Staff with a Gold Head, in the form of a Cane, which
he receives from the King, without any other Commiſſion, and
which he ſurrenders likewiſe to the King on the Reſignation of
his poſt. At what preciſe time this Badge was firſt adopted, we
can only conjecture: thus much however ſeems to carry it to
the Reſtoration, as in a Plate of a Proceſſion of the Knights of
1
* The following circumſtances may ſerve to ſhew fomething of the official
Habit in the earlier parts of the preſent Century. In the Order for New Cloath
on the Birth-day of King George I. (May 28, 1726,) it is ſpecified that the Gen-
tlemen ſhould wear Scarlet Stockings. In the next Reign, (A. D. 1751.) they
were exchanged for Light Grey Stockings, and the Order further preſcribed Briga-
dier-Perukes and Buckſkin-Gloves. [Order-Book].
+ " If the Reader," ſays his Lordſhip, “ deſires to know what ſort of Cloaths
were worn in each King's Reign, and how the Faſhions altered, this is asi Him
s ſtorian for his purpoſe.” [Engliſh Hiſtorical Lib:ary, p.71, 2d edit, ]
the
N2
10.
The KING'S"Honourable Bänd :
**
the Garter, 1671, in Alhmole's Hiſtory of the Order, the CAPS:-
TAIN is placed at the head of the BAND with a fimilar Baton
The CAPTAIN is ſworn into his Poſt by the LORD CHAME-
BERLAIN, in perfon, by virtue of the King's Warrant, -
TheLIEUTENANT and STANDARD-BEARER have ſimilar Stäves. 'n
of Ebony, with Heads of Silver, which they likewiſe receive from
the King, jas Inveſtitures in Office, after which they are ſworn by
the Clerk of the Cheque, in conſequence of a Warrant.from the ·
CAPTAIN. · The CLERK OF THE CHEQUE wears an Officer's
Uniform, and has likewiſe an Ebony Staff, inferiorly ornamented !
on the Head; (being partly Silver and partly Työry), which was
fiſt, allowed by the Duke of-Montagu -when Captain, 1737, as
appears. from the Order-Book now before me, where the follow-. -
ing Memerandum is found ;,
Dec. 7th, 17:37:
66. His Grace the DUKE OF MONTAGU was pleafed to give a :-
“ Stef to George Turner, Eſq; Clerk of the Cheque, and directed:
",
, him to carry the ſame whenever he attended on his MAJESTY -
" in the Preſence-Chamber +."
This Officer is ſworn by the CAPTAIN;= and receives the Staff
from him, and not from the KING..
The GENTLEMEN of, the Band are ſworn by the Clerk of the
Cheque, by the CAPTAIN's Warrant.
It need not be ſaid that the principal Inſignia of Office belong-
ing to the.GENTLEMEN are their Axes. The Heads of them
reſemble the ancient Axes uſed in cloſe onſet with the enea:
my; the offenſive part is ſmaller, for eaſe and convenience;
though the Shaft-is longer, for State: ſo that the proper term for
them is Poler Axes, they being elongated Battle-Axes. This weapon
was formerly a part of the Royal Equipment in War, and in
4
* Chap. XXI. Sect.4...
+ Order-Book. This Indulgence carries the more honour with it, as the Clerk
of the Cheque of the Yeomen of the Guard has no ſuch official Badge..
engravings
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
IOI
!
engravings from old Portraits we often ſee martial Kings drawn
with the Battle-Axe in their hands; and at funerals, both of our
KİNGS, and even of Queens Regent, the Axe was carried with
great pomp, and offered together with the reſt of the armorial Re-
galia at the Altar. Thus at the interment of K. Henry VII. Sir
David Owen carried the King's Helmet, which was crowned; after
whom “ rode Sir Edward Howard, the ſecond ſon of the Earl
“ of Surrey, Treaſurer of England, armed compleat with the
King's Harneſs, his face diſcovered, bearing in his hand the
King's Battle-Axe, the head downwards, reſting on his foot *."
Again, at the funeral of 2. Mary, after the perſons who bore
tlre Helmet and Creſt, “the Man of Arms, the Lord Sheffield,
cs.came riding, armed at all pieces faving the head, with a Pole-
<-- Axe in his hand, and lighted at the Choir door, and being ;
46. led from thence to the High Altar by two noblemen, offered:
" the ſaid Pole- Axe, and after went to the Veſtry, and was
66"there unarmed up.".
The Axes of the Penſioners are repreſented very differently
from any other:appearance of them that we have opportunity of
obferving, in Vandyck's ſketch of the Proceffion of the Knights
of the Garter, 1639, propoſed as part of a delineated hiſtory of
the Order, to have been repreſented in conformity with the
Ceiling) on the Walls of the Banqueting-houſe at Whitehall I.”
The Axes there have rather the form of Adzes, without any ;
pike or horizontal ſpikes, as at preſent, with the Shaft quite
plain and unornamented, whereas, even in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, in the Hunſdon painting, they come much nearer:
thoſe in uſe at this time. In the next reign (of Charles II.) the
Axes ſeem entirely to have aſſumed their preſent ſhape and ema.
* Leland's Collectanea. Vol. IV. p. 3030 in the Addenda...
+ Idem. Vol. V. p. 327.
The original in the poſſeſſion of the Earl of Northington, an engraving of' ?
which was publiſhed in 1783, in Aqua tinta, by Richard Cooper.' See more of :
this deſign in Mr. Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting in England. Art. Vandyck.
6.
belliſhments,
IO 2
The King's Honourable Band
--
belliſhments, as we may diſcern from the repreſentation of a pro-
ceſſion of the Knights of the Garter given by Aſhmole* The
above drawing of Vandyck being in Chiaro ſcuro, the Colour of
the Habit of the Penſioners is not diſcernible ; neither does the
Captain's official 'Baton (if then in uſe) appear from the
Proceſſion in the year 1639; for Theophilus EARL of SUFFOLK
(then the CAPTAIN) being a Knight-companion of the Order,
walked in his place, and is not diſtinguiſhed from the other
Knights by any Enſign of Office.
On a Deiniſe of the Crown, or on the Death of a Queen-Con-
fort, the BAND of PENSIONERS attend the Funeral, and flank the
Canopy, carrying their Axes reverſed, and on ſeveral of theſe oc-
caſions the Axes have been put in Mourning, that is, their Tufts
were - black, and their Shafts were covered with black velvet,
ſtudded with black nails, inſtead of the uſual covering of crim-
ſop velvet, ornamented with gilt nails, &cut.
* Hift. of the Order of the Garter, Chap. XXI. Sect. 4.
* This was done on the demiſe of 2. Anne--of K. George I. and of 2. Care-
line. Till the Acceſſion of his preſent Majeſty, Orders for the Mourning iſſued
from the Captain in writing, addreſſed to the Clerk of the Cheque, who notified
then to the Band, and were not included in any public Order from the Earl Mar-
mal- the Lord Chamberlain, or the Secretary at War. On the demiſe of the late
King, to give the Court a more military appearance, it was only required that
the Band and the Officers, (together with the Officers of the Ycomen of the Guard, ]
in common with naval and military Oficers, ſhould wear a Crape round the left
arm : by which means the Band became included in the Order for Mourning
which iſſued from the War-Office.
Having gone thus far into minutiæ, it may not be amiſs to preſerve the laſt Or-
der of this kind, which iſſued interiorly from the Captain.
On the demiſe of the Crown (1727) the Band was directed to wear---- Scarlet
" Coats trimmed with black, black cloth Waiſtcoats and Breeches, black Swords
“ and Buckles, and to put their Axes in Mourning."
On 2. Caroline's death (1737) the Mournirg was ſtill cloſer, viz.--.“ Scarlet
cloth Coats, without buttons on the ſleeves, or pockets, with Waiſtcoats and
“ Breeches of black cloth, Weepers broad hemmed, chamoy Gloves, crape Hat-
“ bands, black Swords and Buckles, and their Axes to be covered with black vel-
6 vet.” [Order-Book.]
Some.
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS.
103
Something might be expected in this account concerning the
BATTLE-Axe-GUARDS in Ireland; but they, being a body of
Y.eomen of the Guard (like thoſe in England) will be mentioned:
in a future Memoir.
As to the Duty of the GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS at preſent, iť
may be termed very inconſiderable, having diminiſhed in propor-
tion as State has relaxed, and indeed it has always been governed i
biy the temper of the times ; ſo that the Band has long been an :
inactive Body, merely appertaining to the King's domeſtic Dig-
nity, though liable to be called into Field-attendance, in confore.
mity with what we have ſeen was intended in the laſt Reign.
Five of thoſe Gentlemen who are on the quarterly Rota now:
appear every Levée Day and every Drawing-room Däy, in the Pre-
fence. Chamber, and ſtand to their Arms when any of the Royal :
Family paſs through*
On Sundays, and whenever the King goes to the Chapel,
the whole Quarterly
' Guard of Twenty keep the. Paſs in the
Prefence-Chamber in going, and in the Gallery on the return,
bringing up the rear of the Proceflion... In the Room where the
King receives au Addreſs on the Throne, they are ranked in like
manner;, as they alſo are in the interior Approach to the Houſe
,
of Peers when the KING' goes thither, excepting the Five Gen-
tlemen ſtationed at St. James's. . On all ſuch occaſions they are:
covered, en militaire.
This attendance at the entrance of the Houſe of Pëers is a rem-.
nant of their ancient Duty, which was formerly carried much fur--
ther : for in the reign of King James I. when the King and the.
Peers went in.proceſſion to: Parliament on horſeback in their
Robes, the. Gentlemen Penſioners (I preſume the whole Band)
eſcorted the KING on each ſide of the Cavalcade on foot to:
*.See the Duke of Montagu's Letter, antea, p. 916 wherein this indulgence":
as to number is given...
# Extracts from the Journal of Sir Simonds-D’Ewes, in Bibl. Topog. Brite.
N. XV. pp. 19. 20. The original is, in Bibl. Harl. N. 1646, .
The
1
ma
si
1
>
10+
The King's Honourable Band
to
The Duty of the Five Gentlemen attending in the Preſence-
Chamber likewiſe went further in the late Reign than it now
does; for an Order made by the Duke of Montagu (the CAP-
TAIN) in the year 1737, directs, that when the King
goes
the Parliament-Houſe, “the Five Gentlemen, waiting in the
" Preſence-Chamber, do always attend his Majesty down ſtairs
66 with their Axes, to his Coach, and wait till it is gone off;
“ and on his return from the Houſe to St. James's, they are to
" receive him at his alighting out of his Coach, and guard his
“ MAJESTY up-ſtairs to the Preſence-Chamber, avhere they
uſually wait.” This Order moreover enjoins, that ".Four
" of the Gentlemen in waiting on his MAJESTY at the Parlia-
ment - Houſe, do receive him at his getting out of his Coach,
oo and follow into the Prince's Chamber, where his MAJESTY
“ robes, and place themſelves as near the KING as conveniently
may be, before the Yeomen of the Guard, and itand to their
66 Arms till his Majesty is gone into the Houfe ; and that
they place themſelves in a like manner againſt his MAJESTY
“ comes out of the Houſe, and whilft his MAJESTY un-robes,
66 and attend him down ſtairs to his Coach *.
And now, Sir, I have but one more official Circumſtance to
trouble
you
with on the part of the BAND, not the leaſt ancient,
nor the leaſt honourable, Branch of their Duty, which is that the
Gentlemen Penfoners have a preſcriptive Right to carry up the
Royal Dinner on Coronations, without exhibiting any Claims,
as others do, who often contend for the performance of ſimilar
Offices on ſuch occafions, in quality of Carver, Cup-bearer, Sewer,
&c. &c. &c. Theſe laſt being feudal ſervices, appendant to Lands
and Offices held of the Crown, to be performed ſolely on Coro-
nations, occur but ſeldoin, while the BAND of PENSIONERS
had the further honour of carrying up the ſecond Courſe at St.
# Order-Book.
George's
of GENTLEMEN PENSIONER'S.
KOG
George's Feaſt. This, which formerly was an annual Solemnity
of the firſt magnitude (excluſive of Feſtivals purely religious) is
now not obſerved, except as a Collar-day, when the 23d of
April (St. George's Day) falls on a Sunday; unleſs we may be
allowed, by tranſpoſition to call that day St. George's Feaſt, when
there is an Inſtallation of Knights of the Garter at Windſor,
on which occaſion likewiſe, if the King. be preſent, the Gen-
TLEMEN PensionERS. now perform the Office of carrying up
the ſecond Courſe *
In reward for ſuch ſervice on Coronations, the Sovereign has
of late years uſually conferred the Honour of Knighthood on
ſome of the Officers or-Gentlemen of the Band, ordering the cuſ-
tomary Fees to be paid at the Treaſury; and on Inſtallations the
King often confers the ſame Honour, but does not carry the
compliment ſo far as to: diſcharge the Feest?
This
}
* The Ceremonial of ſerving the fecond Courſe of the Royal Dinner on Inſtal-
lations of Knights of the Garter is thus exhibited by Aſhmole, as performed 1663,
though he confeffes that the drawing is defective for want of room in the Plate || :
Enough however is preſerved for our purpoſe, viz.
“ Two Serjeants at Arms,
“ Two Serjeants at Arms).
" Comptroller of the Houfhold; 6: Treaſurer of the Houſhoid..
6. The Sewer,
" GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS carrying the Diſhes,
66 Two and Two.
“ Maſter of the Houſhold,
" Cofferer of the Houſhold,
* A Clerk of the Green Cloth, “. A. Clerk of the Green Cloth,
as A Clerk Comptroller of the Green. “ A Clerk. Comptroller. of the Green
“ Cloth,
16 Cloth.
" Second Clerk of the Kitchen,
" Chief Clerk of the Kitchen.
4. On the Coronation of his preſent MAJESTY the Standard-bearer and the Senior
Gentleman of the BAND were knighted, and the uſual Fees paid at the Treaſury:
On the other hand, when the King afſuned his Stall at Windſor, as Sovereign of
the Order, 1762, the Lieutenant of the Band received the honour of Knight-
1. Order of the Garter, PP: 588. et. feq.
02
hood
106
The King's Honourable Band
This honourable Service of carrying up a part at leaſt of the
Royal Dinner, has long been an appendage of Office to the Band
on other ſolemn and ſplendid occaſions, as well as at Corona-
tions and at St. George's Feaſt. Thus on the Marriage of King
Philip and Queen Mary, the Gentlemen Penſioners we are told
chiefly carried up the Dinner, at which Ceremony their CAP:
TAIN (Thomas Ratcliffe, Earl of Suſſex officiated as Sewer *.
On other leſs public Solemnities, and even in Progreffes, when
the Sovereign either gave or accepted an entertainment in State,
the BAND performed the fame Office: as for example, when Q.
Elizabeth, in a Progreſs, viſited Arch-biſhop Parker, at Can-
terbury, 1573, the Dinner was ſerved by her Majesty's Pen.
SIONERS, -" Reginæ a Stipatoribus, quos Penſionarios appellant,
" in mensâ miniftratum eft *."
To return, Sir, for a moment, to the Ceremony uſed at In-
ſtallations of Knights of the Garter, Aſhmole tells us that the
Band formerly went in guard on each ſide of the Sovereign and
the Knights-Companions, as they did, for inſtance, in the eighth
year of King Charles I. to and from St. George's Chapel f: but
afterwards, in the next reign, when Aſhmole wrote, the BAND
cloſed the Proceſſion, Two and Two, with the CAPTAIN at
their head | This change of Poſt had at that time taken place
hood; but the Fees were not allowed by the Treaſury-Board, for want of a pre-
cedent, and the Lieutenant paid them himſelf--as did the Clerk of the Cheque,
who was knighted at the Inſtallation, 1771. King Charles I. ſoon after his Co-
ronation in Scotland (1633) knighted no leſs than ſeventeen of his GENTLEMEŅ
PENSIONERS. [Catalogue of Knights made by King Charles, collected by T. W.
London, 1642, duod.]
* Strype's Memorials. Vol. III. p. 136. The Office of the Sewer is to place
the Diſhes properly on the Table.
+ The account of this Progreſs, written in Latin, is given in the Appendix to
the ſecond Volume of Strype's Annals of the Reformation.
Hiſt, of the Order of the Garter, pp. 515. 566. 570.
|| Idem. See the Plate between p. 576 and p. 577,
5
in
of GentLEMEN PENsioNERS.
107
in other Proceſſions, as we have ſeen in the courſe of this Me-
moir, and therefore may be attributed to the Reſtoration, a pe-
riod which introduced many ſimilar alterations about the Court.
While the Sovereign's Table on theſe occaſions is thus ſerved
by his BAND of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS, the reomen of the
Guard (who daily carry up the King's Dinner in private) are
conſigned to the performance of the like Office at the Table of the
Knights-Companions :—and as I cannot leave the Band in the
poffeffion of a more honourable Employment, I here, Sir, fet
you at liberty, with many Apologies for the length of this
Memoir, and remain, with great Reſpect for you and the So-
ciety,
Your obliged,
and moſt obedient,
S
humble ſervant,
SAMUEL PEGGE.
Whitehall,
June 4, 1784.
APPENDIX.
:
产
​i
}
4
,
{
,
[ 109 )
:
Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν DI X.
No. 1.
IT is ſcarcely poſſible, Sir, at this diſtance of time, to pre-
ſerve a regular ſucceſſion of the ſeveral CAPTAINS of the BAN."
of PensIONERS from its Inſtitution, which comprehends a pe-
riod of more than Two Hundred and Seventy Years : but ſuch
whoſe Names and Titles have occurred in the courſe of the pre-
ceding Reſearch, are here given from the authorities which have
offered themſelves. By the following Liſt it will appear that
the Band has always been thought a Poſt of high and diſtin-
guilhed honour, not unworthy the acceptance of the firſt No-
bility, and which, in one caſe only, (that of Sir Anthony Browne,
who was a Knight of the Garter) has been conferred upon a
COMMONER.
A
L I S T
OF
T H E
C Α Ρ Τ Α Ι Ν S
Of the BAND of
GENTLEMEN
PENSIONERS,
From its Efabliſhment,
A. D. 1509 *.
K. HENRY VIII.
HENRY (Bourchier) EARL of
Essex-The Firſt Captain.” See the preceding Memoir, p. 3.
* The Dates, for the moſt part, refer to the times when the CAPTAINS are
found in Office, and not to the preciſe year of their reſpective Appointments.
Р
Sir
1
[110]
Sir ANTHONY Browne, Knt.} Memoir, p. 25:-
of the Garter.
WILLIAM (Parr) EARL of ? Memoir, p. 26.
}
Essex *.
K. EDW-ARD VI.
WILLIAM (Parr) MARQUIS
of NORTHAMPTON.
AR QUIS} Memoir
Memoir, p. 390.
K:PHILIP and Q. MARK:
WILLIAM (Parr) MARQUIS} Memoir, p. 43.
..
NORTHAMPTON.
THOMAS (Ratcliffe) EARL of
Sussex...
of } Memoir, p. 106.
DON.
DON.
2. ELIZABETH..
HENRY (Cary) Lord. Hu NS-} Memoir, P: 56.
GEORGE (Cary) LORD HUNS-
UNS} Memoir, p:61
K. JAMES I..
George (Cary) LORD Huns- } Memoir, p. 49:5
HENRY (Percy) E. of Nor) Memoir, p. 51..
THUMBERLAND I
DON.
}
* So created, after the death of Henry Bourchier, the late Earl, whoſe fole:
daughter he had married. [Vid. Memoir, p. 26, in a Note.] His Lordſhip was-,
created Marquis of Northampton, in the firſt year of King Edward VI. [Vid.
Note to Page 31 of the Memoir. ]
+ Attainted, 1553:
Deprived, 3606..
THoa
[ 1111
EARL
SUFFOLK. (1615.]
THEOPHILUS (Howard) LORD, MS. in the Library of the Earl
WALDEN*, [1616.]
Si of Shelburne.
2
K. CHARLES I.
THEOPHILUS (Horward) when Memoir; p. 102.
WILLIAM (Cecil) EARL of Memoir, pp. 66, 67.-
SALISBURY.
FRANCIS (Leigh) LORD DUNS-
ĐDuns-} Dugdale's Baronags..
MORE [ 1643 + ]
}
1
K. CHARLES II.
Henry (Wentworth) Earl Memoir; p. 76.
of CLEVELAND.
JOHN (Belafis) LORD BEL-
Collins's Peerage.
LASIS of Worlaby.
THOMAS (Belafis VISCOUNT
FaucoNBERG (1672 1.)
} Dugdale's Baronage.
WENTWORTH (Dillen) EARL} Peerage of Ireland.
of ROSCOMMON (1674.)
ROBERT (Leake) EARL of Collins's Peerage.
}
SCARSDALE (1684.]
:
K. JAMES II.
THEOPHILUS (Haſtings) EARL7 Collins's Peerage.
of HUNTINGDON (1687.]
He became Earl of Suffolk, 1626.
+ Created Earl of Chicheſter, 1644.
On the refignation of his Uncle-Lord Belafis:of. Worlaby. (Dugdale and Cota:
ARL}
lins.]}
KIWILS.
:
:
12 ]
LACE
*
K. WILLIAM III. .
John (Lovelace) Lord Love-} Memois, p. 79.
RALPH (Montagu) EARL
) of}
CHARLES (Fitzroy) Duke of Memoir, p. 88.
}
ST. ALBANS (1695)
:
MONTAGU.
2. ANNE.
Henry (SomerſetDUKE of
BEAUFORT, [1710.]
of} Collius's Peerage.
K. GEORGE I.
CHARLES (Fitzroy; Duke of Collins's Peerage.
ST.ALBANS, (reſtored 1714+.]
WILLIAM (Cavendiſs] MAR-
.
QUIS HARTINGTON (17261.))
i} Collins's Peerage.
K. GEORGE II.
Richard (Bogle) Earl of 1 Collins's Peerage.
BURLINGTON, (1731.]
JOHN (Montagu) Duke of
MONTAGU, [1734.]
Memoir, p. 91.
}
CHARLES (Paulet) Duke of
BOLTON, (1740. ]
} Collins's Peerage.
* His Lordſhip died in the command, 1693. [Collins's Peerage. }
+ His Grace died in the Command, 1726. [Collins's Peerage.]
His Lordſhip became Duke of Devonſhire, 1729.
5
ALLEN
[ 113. ]
ALLEN (Bathurji) LORD BA-
Collins's Peerage.
THURST, [1742 *.
John(Hobart)LORD HOBART,
[1745 +7
JOHN (Berkeley) LORD BER-
Collins's Peerage.
KELEY, STRATTON (1.561.)
}
4-} c
ART,} Collins's Peerage.
j}
K. GEORGE III.
GEORGE-HENRY (Lee) EARL
of LICHFIELD,[1762 11.]
GEORGE (Edgecumbe) LORD
EDGECUMBE, [1772 $.]
GEORGE (Townſhend ) LORD
DEFERRARS, Mar.29,[1782 **.]
GEORGE-Bussy (Villiers) E.
of JERSEY, [May 14, 1783-1
GEORGE (Townſhend) LORD DE
- FERRARS, (Dec. 31, 1783 mtot,]
попе
EARL of LEICESTER, 11.
* Created Earl Bathurſt, 1772.
+ Created Earl of Buckinghamſhire, 1749.
His Lordſhip reſigned, 1763.
|| His Lordſhip died in the Command, 1772.
Created Viſcount Mount-Edgecumbe and Valletort, 1781.
** His Lordſhip reſigned the Command, 1783.
tt Re-appointed on the reſignation of the Earl of Jerſey.
By Patent of Creation, 1784.
It is rather ſingular, as an obſervation of the moment, that the Earl of Leicef-
ter, the preſent CAPTAIN, is, as Baron Bourchier and Louvaine, the lineal
Heir and Repreſentative of the Family of Henry Bourchíer, Earl of Effex, the
forf Captain of the BAND.
Q
AP
.
[ 114 ]
:
Α Ρ Ρ Ε Ν D Ι Χ.
NO. II.
I
favoured with the uſe of an old Order-Book belonging to the
Band which contains ſome Circumſtances that were hitherto un-
known to me, and which otherwiſe would have been inter-
woven in their proper places. The moſt material matter be.
fore me is a Copy of the Orders of K. James II, which differ
very widely from thoſe either of K. Charles I. or K. Charles II:
We ſhall there find each GENTLEMAN PENSIONER again obliged
to the finding of Ihree Great Horſes for himſelf and Two ſervants,
with Arms and other military Habiliments. We there like-
wiſe meet with Eighty GENTLEMEN AT ARMS, or PensIONERS
Extraordinary, each of whom was to provide One Great Horſe
and proper Accoutrements. Theſe Orders varying ſo much from-
any that have preceded, I here inſert a Copy of them, omitting
ſuch Articles as are in words or ſubſtance the ſame as thoſe of
the Reign of King Charles I. given in the Memoir, p. 69.
ORDERS of KING JAMES II. A. D. 1684.
I. The Honourable Band of our Gentlemen Penſioners having the
Honour to have daily acceſs into our Preſence Chamber as being our
neareſt Guard and principal military Corps of our Houfhold-in
which honourable Band our Royal Father in his late Civil Wars,
as well as other Princes our Predeceſors, having found great ſervice
as well in the guard of their Royal Perſons as that it bath ſerved
them as a Nurſery to breed up the Nobility and Gentry of the Realm
in military Diſcipline, and fit them to be Commanders in their Wars---
and
[ 115 ]
and We having taken notice that fiveral Perfons have been ad-
mitted into the faid Band not qualified as beretofore for that ſervice,
which has rendered the faid Band leſs grateful to Us; We think fit
and ordain-That benceforth none ſhall be admitted to be of the
Forty Gentlemen Penſioners in Ordinary but the Sons of Noble-
men or Gentlemen of Blood, or ſuch Perſons who by their valour
and good conduet in the wars have diſtinguiſhed. themſelves as Com-
miffioned Officers in our forces, and who shall, for the term of ſix
Months at the laſt; have ſerved at their own proper charge as Gen-
tlemen at Arms, commonly called Gentlemen Penſioners Extraor-
dinary of the ſaid Band,
2. None that is or fball be a Servant, or retained to any person
cr Perſons of any degree ar condition what foever by Oath, Livery,
Badge, Promiſe, or otherwiſe, but to Us only, fall be of the Forty
Gentlemen Penſioners in Ordinary, or of the Eighty Gentlemen
at Arms or Penfioners Extraordinary of the ſaid Band,
.. 3. If We or the Captain of the ſaid BAND'fhall think fit to re-
move any or all of the Forty Gentlemen Penſioners in Ordinary
now of the Band, thoſe who have bought their Places, that ſhall be
Jo removed, fball receive Half-pay during their lives reſpectively;
and thoſe that ſucceed in their places the other Half: and after
their death.the Whole.
4. The Captain of the Band ſhall have freedom and power of
diſpoſing of the places of all the Gentlemen Penſioners in Ordinary
and of all the Gentlemen Penſioners Extraordinary which ſhall at
any time become vacant in as full and ample a manner ä's any Captain
of the Band have enjoyed and practiſed the fame before the lap Eſta-
bliſhment in the year 1670-The ſaid Eſtablillment or any thing
therein contained to the contrary notwithſtanding.
5. The ſame as in the Orders of K, Charles I.
6. The fame &c.
7. The fame & C
8. The
1
!
Q 2
[ 116 1
8. The fame &c.
9.
And every Gentlemau Penſioner-Extraordinary fo'.
failing Mall, for the firſt default, be obliged to perform double.Duty;
and for the ſecond default to perform triple Duty; and for the third
default to be clearly expulfed and put out of the Room of a Gentle-
man Penſioner Extraordinary.
10. The ſame as in the Orders of K. Charles I.
11. The ſaid Gentlemen Penſioners in Ordinary being réquired
by their Inſtitution every of them to be well and ſufficiently provided
and furniſhed with his Three Great Horſes for himſelf and his
Servants, with Arms and all other Habiliments to the ſame apper-
taining, the performance whereof our late Brother, King Charles
the Second, was pleaſed to diſpenſe with till he should think fit to re--
quire the fame.-It is OUR PLEASURE that from henceforth the Forty
Gentlemen Penſioners in Ordinary, and the. Eighty Gentlemen:
Penſioners Extraordinary, mall each of them be ſufficiently fur-
niſhed and provided with one Great Horſe; with a Caſeof Piſtols,
a Broad Sword, an Iron Back, Breaſt, and Head-piece, with pro-
per Furniture and Accoutrements to the ſame appertaining; to be
ready therewith within two days Warning to be given them by their
Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard-bearer, on failure whereof the
Gentlemen Penſioners in Ordinary to forfeit Ten days Wages for
the firſt default, and for the ſecond default to forfeit a Month's Wa-
ges, and for the third default to be clearly expulfed and put out of
the Room of a Gentleman Penſioner in Ordinary, and to lofe his
whole Quarter's Wages. And every Gentleman Penſioner Extra-
ordinary who shall fail to be furniſhed and provided with Horſe and
Arms as aforeſaid, and to be ready therewith within Two Days
notice to be given him by his Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard.
bearer, pall be clearly expulſed and put out of the room of a Gen-
tleman Penſioner Extraordinary.
12. Every
1
[ 187 ] :
i
A
+
12. Every Gentleman Penſioner in Ordinary ſhall allo ſufi-
ciently furniſh and provide himſelf with three Great Horſes, with
Piſtols, Swords, Iron Backs, Breaſts, and Head-pieces, with pro-
per Furniture and Accoutrements to the ſame appertaining, for-s
himſelf and two ſervants, whenever We ſhall think fit to require tbe
fame, to be ready therewith within fourteen days notice to be given
unto them by their Captain, Lieutenant, or Standard-bearer, un--
der the penalty for every default to be chequed or expulſed clearly,
and put out of the room of a Gentleman Penſioner, as aforemen---
tioned.
13.
The ſame as in the Orders of K. Charles I.
14. In ſubſtance the ſame as in the Orders of K. Charles I.
15. The Captain of the Band ſhall have a due regard that ſuch
Gentlemen Penſioners in. Ordinary, and Gentlemen Penſioners
Extraordinary, whom he shall appoint to do the duty of Corpo-
rals, Sub-Corporals, File-leaders, and Adjutants to the Band, Mall
benceforth always be ſuch of the Gentlemen as ſhall have the moſt
knowledge and experience in military diſcipline, without having re-
gard to their feniority of admiſſion into the Band.
1h. The Habits, Arins, and Cloathing of the Gentlemen Pen-
fioners in Ordinary, and of the Gentlemen at Arms or Pen- .
fioners Extraordinary, ſhall be ſuch as We or their Captain hall
appoint.
17. The ſame as in the Orders of Ki Charles I.
18. The Trumpeters of Our Houthold attending on the ſaid Band
when they are under Arms, Jhall, on every ſuch attendance; bence-
forth be mounted upon white Horſes.
19. The accuſtomed Oaths Mall be taken by every Gentleman Pen- :
fioner in Ordinary and by every Gentleman at Arms or Penſioner
Extraordinary, at their Admiſſion into the Band.
20. The ſame as in the Orders of K. Charles I.
6
21. The
1
1
[118]
21. The Gentlemen Penſioners in Ordinary, and the Gentle-
men at Arms, or Penſioners Extraordinary of the ſaid Band, mall
be advanced to be Commiſſioned Officers in cur Army, 'preferably
to all other perſons whatſoever.
Given at our Court at Whitehall, the Tenth Day of February,
1684, in firſt Year of Our Reign.
By his Majesty's Command.
.
41
AP
( 119 )
A PP E N D I X. NO: III.
ADDITIONS and CORRECTIONS..
MEMOIR.- P: 57•-
[In the Note.].
“ This letter is printed in Dr. Chamberlayne's Preſent
“-States, viz. 1737 and 1748 ; but I have never been able to find
" the Original or any other Copy of it."
Io the old Order-Book (mentioned in the Appendix, No. I.):
there is a tranſcript of the letter above-given; but it is not there.
faid from whence it was taken..
MEMOẠI R..p. 76.
" The BAND was reduced from Fifty to Forty. This
“ Dr. Chamberlayne tells us took place between the years 1672 and
“ 1674."
The point in queſtion is aſcertained by the following extract
from a Declaration of K.. Charles. II, which iſſued in the year.-
1670*.
" CHARLES R...
“ We having taken notice that ſome Gentlemen of our BAND -
“ of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS have been admitted into the
“ faid BAND, not qualified as heretofore for that ſervice, which
só hath rendered the ſaid Band leſs grateful to Us;—for the pre-
* Old Order-Book,
66 vention
come
1
1
[ 120 )
66 vention of the ſame for the time to come, We do hereby de-
" clare, that the ſaid BAND of PensioNERS now conſiſting of
“ Fifty Thall be reduced to Forty that ſhall be continued. And
66 if We ſhall think fit to remove any or all of thoſe Forty that
66 ſhall be continued, thoſe that ſhall be ſo removed ſhall re-
“ ceive Half-pay during their lives reſpectively, and thoſe that
" Thall ſucceed in their places the other Half, and after their
66 deaths the Whole."
It ſhould be obſerved here, in juſtice to the Crown, that the
Ten GentLEMEN, then diſcharged, were not totally neglected;
for though the KING, when this reduction was made in the
number of the Band, had enlarged the Pay of all the Officers re-
ſpectively, and had advanced that of each of the Forty GEN-
TLEMEN, to 100l. per annum: yet his Majeſty, not to diſmiſs
the Ten GENTLEMEN too-unhandſomely (who, we may equi-
tably ſuppoſe, did not purchaſe their places) was pleaſed to aſ-
ſign to each of them a ſum of money, equal to the pay of a year
and an half, to be levied upon the ſtanding Corps. The above-
cited Declaration thereupon runs thus--" That for the ſatisfac-
“ tion of the Ten (Gentlemen] who quite leave the Band, the
remaining Forty, and the Officers, ſhall contribute out of their
o firſt year's Wages, which ſhall be paid according to this new
" Eſtabliſhment, the ſum of 1,5001.---and that we will order
65 the payment of their Arrears in the firſt place.
“ Given under our Signet and Sign Manual, at our Court
“ at Whitehall, the 17th day of March, 1670.
1
(
By his MAJESTY's Command,
66 ARLINGTON.”
MEMOIR.
( 121 )
MEMOIR. p. 77.
-- If Dr. Chamberlayne's account be the truth (and there
" is no reaſon to controvert it) the Salaries both of the Officers and
“ Gentlemen aroſe to the preſent Standard, under K. JAMES [tbe
6. Second.”]
I thought that Dr. Chamberlayne might have been relied
upon in a circumſtance wherein he had an opportunity of receiv-
ing perſonal information, and in a caſe which lay peculiarly
within the province of a man who profeſſedly undertook to give
the ſtate of the Court, and its revolutions, from time to time.
When a body of Gentlemen, ſo well known, and in ſo reſpect-
able a line of character, underwent a change, in number as well
as ſalary, it became almoſt a matter of publick obfervation, and,
I preſume, did not eſcape the notice, if it did not incur the
cenfure, of the world: but Dr. Chamberlayne has wandered ſo
far from the truth that the event took place two years, at leaſt,
before he heard of it * Let us revert to the Declaration of K.
Charles II. (1670) before cited, and we ſhall there find that the
reduction of the Band in point of number, and the advancement
of the Salaries, was the operation of the ſame moment, and that
the latter was the reſult of the former. Ten GENTLEMEN
of the Band had been diſcharged, and the King was thereby
enabled, by ſuch reduction, to enlarge the Pay of thoſe Gentle-
men who remained, as well as of the Officers. Thus the Decla-
ration (of the year 1670) ſpecifies that from thenceforth the feve-
ral Wages of the Band ſhould be as follows, viz. to the CAP.
TAIN 1,000.---To the Lieutenant 500l.---To the Standard-
Bearer 310l.---To the Forty Gentlemen (in the grofs) 4,000 l.---
* See his Preſent-State of the Year 1672, where the GENTLEMEN are given,
by name, Fifty in number.
R
Το
[.122 ]
ano
To the Clerk of the Cheque, 12ob...and to the Gentleman-Har-
binger, 70l. per annum. The Royal intention (as appears from
Clauſe in the above Declaration) was to equalize the Pay
of the Officers of the Band of Penfioners with that of the corre-
ſponding Officers in the Corps of the Yeomen of the Guard, with-
out enlarging the current expence allotted to the Band; for the
words run, that the Wages of the Officers ſhould be made
equal to the Pay of the Officers of the Yeomen of our Guard,
which We will ſhall be done without increaſing the annual
" Charge of Six Thouſand Pounds, which is the ancient Wages
« and Eſtabliſhment of the whole BAND
MEMOIR. p. 95.
In the Note. ]
.He adds (Chamberlayne] that none ſhall be admitted into
" the Band except they ſhall have ſerved at their own Charge, for
fix months at leaſt, as Gentlemen at Arms, or Penſioners Extra-
“ ordinary.----This circumſtance, for want of information, I leave
“ doubtful."
See the Orders of K. James II. (given in the Appendix, No. II.
Art. 1.) where it is expreſsly ſaid that none ſhall be admitted
into the Band as GENTLEMEN in Ordinary, who have not
“ ſerved for the term of fix months at the leaſt, at their own
“ Charge, as GENTLEMEN AT ARMS, commonly called, Gen-
“ TLEMEN PENSIONERS Extraordinary of the Band.” By
the words « commonly called” one is induced to ſuppoſe that
the Gentlemen Extraordinary were added by K. CHARLES II.
though I have ſeen nothing to warrant it. K. James II. if
this addition was his own act, ſeems to have been very rapid
in making the Appointment; for he aſcended the Throne,
* See the Memoir in a note to p. 64.
Feb.
( 123 )
-
Feb. 6, 1684, N. S. and the Orders referred to are dated the
10th of that Month in the ſame Year. K. JAMES II. it is well
known, was follicitous to have a very ſplendid Coronation,
and ſuch it was :---but the Ceremony was no ſooner per-
formed than the Houſhold Eſtabliſhment ſuffered a ſevere Re-
duction, and it is to be fufpected, though the BAND of the Forty
GENTLEMÉN PENSIONERS in Ordinary ſtood entire, that the
GENTLÉMEN Extraordinary might forſake their expectations, and
withdraw themſelves from a diſcouraging ſervice, attended with
actual and immediate Charges. The chance, humaniy ſpeaking,
was unequal, the Extra-GENTLEMEN being Eighty in number,
dependent for Preferment and Pay upon contingent Vacancies in
a Body of Forty*
The GENTLEMEN Extraordinary do not appear, from Sand-
ford's account of the Coronation of K. James II. to have made a
part of the Proceſſion, ſo that there is reaſon to doubt whether
they even exiſted at the time of the Coronation, and inight not
all reſign previous to that Ceremony, to avoid the neceſſary con-
comitant Expences t.
!
* Orders of K. James II. Art. 11. See Appendix, No. II.
+ The Forty GENTLEMEN PENSIONERS in Ordinary, who attended the Coro-
nation, are mentioned by name in Sandford. Twenty eſcorted the King, and
Twenty the Queen, flanking the Canopies. The Coronation took place on the
23d of April after the Acceſſion.
1
R2
ME.
/
។
1
[ 124 ]
Memoir, p. 96.
“ It has been cuſtomary for many Years paſt to purchaſe
the Office or Place of a private Gentleman of the Band of Penſi.
oners, and to ſell the ſame (with the Approbation of the CAP-
TAIN) as occafion offered."
It is here implied, that in caſe of Death, the Diſpoſition of
the vacant Port is in the Breaſt of the CAPTAIN, and ſuch it is
known to be ; every Transfer, from one Man to another, being
a Matter of Indulgence, which he is at liberty to grant or refuſe
at pleaſure. As to the Patronage of the Band, if I may ſo call
it, of which, for want of Authority, I have hitherto ſuggeſted
nothing, I have now a Sanction for adding what follows.
By the above-given Order, of the 18th of March, 1670, the
KING reſumes to himſelf the Appointment of the whole BAND,
which previouſly had been lodged with the CAPTAIN: but in
the Year 1677, a Declaration now before me (extracted from
the old Order-Book) inveſts the then CAPTAIN (the Earl of
Rofcommon) with the like power as his Predeceffors had, in caſes
of Vacancies by Death, before the Year 16'70 ; with proviſion
only that on every Change indiſcriminately the Gentlemen, thence-
forth intended for Admiſſion into the Band, ſhould be firſt per-
fonally brought to the King for his Approbation. This Power
was again unreſervedly conferred upon the CAPTAIN by the
Orders of King James 11. (Art. 4.) and, as far as my preſent In-
formation goes, has never been revoked. It is farther eſtabliſhed
by the Caſe which came in Queſtion between Lord Lovelace and
ſome diſcarded Gentlemen at the Revolution, when the CAPTAIN'S
Power was confirmed by the King and Council; reſerving
only,
??
[ 125 )
only, in future, that every Gentleman, before his Admiflion,
ſhould be preſented to his MAJESTY for his Concurrence *
MEMOIR, P. 9gio
“ The preſent UNIFORM is ..... entirely at the Pleaſure
of the CAPTAIN, with the King's Approbation."
The Orders of King James II. 1684(Art. 16.) confirm this.
MeMOBR, p. 100.
“ The CAPTAIN is ſworn into his Por by the LORD
CHAMBERLAIN, in perſon, by virtue of the KING's Warrant."
In the above-mentioned old Order-Book there are ſome Mi.
nutes left by Thomas Stapley, Eſq; who was Clerk of the Cheque
to the Band in the Reign of King CHARLES I. and dated 1-633 ;
wherein he ſays, that antecedent to that Reign the CAPTAIN
of the Band had not any Oath of Office adminiſtered to him :
but that, after he was nominated by the King, he took por,
ſeſſion of the Poſt with a little Ceremonial, which at once notified
the SOVEREIGN's Pleaſure, and carried Dignity with it in the
Eyes of the Court and the Publick.
Mr. Stapley ſpeaks in the third Perſon, and theſe are his
Words, with which I Thall cloſe this long Detail. 66 The
" CAPTAIN of the Band of GENTLEMEN PENSIONERs never
“ uſed to take any Oath; for he [Stapley] knew Five CAPTAINS
“ of the ſaid BAND, viz.Henry Lord Hunſdon-George Lord Hunfdon
"The Earl of Northumberland-Thomas Earl of Suffolk-and
Theophilus Lord Walden ; yet he never knew nor heard that any
" of the ſaid CAPTAINS were ſworn:--but their Manner was,
* See the Memoir, p. 86.
when
( 126 )
- when the Queen or KING gave any of thèm the Place of
“ CAPTAIN, to ſend for the Clerk of the Cheque, and call for a
66 Roll, and ſuch' of the Band as were in Quarter, to acquaint
66 them with the King's Pleaſure to make him CAPTAIN:
" Whereupon, the next Sunday following, ſuch of the Gen-
66 tlemen, as were in Town, attended the CAPTAIN from his
“ Lodging to the Preſence-Chamber, whereby Notice was taken,
66 that the King had beſtowed the Place of CAPTAIN upon
66 him."
F I N I S.
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